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# Stacey Pardoe

Encountering God in the Ordinary

## Posts

- [15 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up in Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/04/16/10-bible-verses-about-not-giving-up-in-tough-times/) - The way the mittenlike leaf of the poplar unfurls from its tiny burgundy bud is an astonishing mystery to me. In these moments of wonder, the rhythms of the natural world offer encouragement about the importance of perseverance. Today, we'll explore 15 Bible verses about not giving up in adversity. I invite you to read
- [Is God Calling You to a Balanced Life? (10 Insightful Scriptures on Balance in Life)](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/05/25/is-god-calling-you-to-a-balanced-life-5-insightful-scriptures-on-balance-in-life/) - A pale moon hangs casually above the tree line tonight—like it's in no hurry and has nothing to prove. I watch its slow ascent toward the heights of inky blackness, and I feel remarkably out of balance. I pull out my Bible in search of encouraging Scriptures on balance as I aim to align myself
- [15 Bible Verses for Travel: Anxiety, Safety, and Uncertainty](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/06/28/5-ways-to-focus-on-the-good-lessons-from-the-road/) - After 11 days on the road, we returned home to western Pennsylvania last week. All in all, the trip reminded me of how to thoroughly enjoy God and his gifts in every situation. I also pulled out my Bible as I reflected on God's Word regarding travel. Today, we'll look at 15 Bible verses for
- [15 Bible Verses About Fitness and Caring for Your Body](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/01/how-to-live-your-best-life/) - Caring for our bodies is important, but it's not easy to find balance in this area. It's easy to vacillate between neglecting our bodies and putting excessive energy into caring for them. Today, we'll explore 15 Bible verses about fitness and health as we seek this balance. I also invite you to read to the
- [Honor God With Your Body: 12 Practical Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/10/how-to-enjoy-your-life/) - Uncover ways to build a positive relationship with your child's teacher
- [12 Healing Bible Verses for a Broken Heart](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/16/god-doesnt-seem-using-pain-good/) - Sometimes the words of others sound cliché and trite when they tell us God will use our pain for good. What do we do when we see no sign of his hand?
- [Finding Joy in the Lord: 9 Biblical Tips](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/30/how-to-savor-the-moment-when-life-is-far-from-perfect/) - I’m bent over an industrial meat slicer—not thinking a thing in the world about finding joy in the Lord—when a phrase comes to mind: “Why do we often have to lose what we have to appreciate it?" I’m 21 years old, and I’m far from my home in Pennsylvania. I’m working in a deli in
- [Managing Holiday Stress: 10 Insights for Peace](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/28/3-ways-to-have-less-stress-at-christmas/) - We walk to the hill where the fir and spruce trees mingle in a dozen shades of emerald. Within minutes, the youngest falls into the thorny branches of a hawthorn crabapple, and the oldest is tangled in a knot of burdock. What was supposed to be fun has become an exercise in managing holiday stress.
- [15 Bible Verses About Rejoicing in the Lord](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/30/the-abundant-life/) - I long to cease from striving and embrace my daily life. I will receive all things from the hand of the Lord. I will be glad in all things. I will rejoice.
- [8 Prayers for Strength and Patience in Difficult Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/12/03/8-prayers-for-strength-and-patience-in-difficult-times/) - I marvel at the almost-winter moon, a silvery second-light casting soft shadows on the wall. I'm restless tonight, unable to sleep, and I take the advice of a friend, using these quiet hours to seek God. On this night, I mostly pray prayers for strength and patience as we press into the long, winter months
- [15 Bible Verses About Living Life to the Fullest](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/05/31/how-to-love-your-life-4-practical-ways-to-cultivate-joy/) - I've been watching the poplar leaves grow on the tree in the backyard this spring. Their tiny faces glanced at me through the finger-smeared glass the day I turned the calendar to May. As I opened my Bible in search of Bible verses about living life to the fullest, the leaves offered a reminder as
- [10 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Show Hospitality](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/04/27/hospitality-isnt-think/) - Hospitality is more than just opening our homes...
- [The Gift of Hospitality: 5 Skills to Cultivate the Gift](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/02/09/7-ways-to-extend-hospitality-this-winter/) - DIY, ideas, and inspiration for offering hospitality this winter
- [15 Bible Verses About Hospitality: Plus Creative Ideas](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/03/13/6-ways-to-extend-hospitality-this-spring/) - 6 Creative ways to offer hospitality this spring
- [15 Bible Verses for Guidance in Decision Making](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/04/two-truths-to-remember-when-god-calls-you-to-step-out-in-faith/) - Have you been praying about a big decision? Maybe you feel confused because you want to follow God but don't have a clear sense of his direction. You are in the right place. Today, we'll talk about making decisions with God and explore 15 Bible verses for guidance in decision making. Be sure to read
- [12 Godly Habits for Joy and Peace in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/02/5-healthy-rhythms-to-help-you-connect-with-god-and-enjoy-your-life/) - A pewter sky threatens rain, and I stand at the window as the little one calls from the living room. He wants to know what we’re doing for fun today. I’ve been deliberately turning to my mental list of godly habits daily, and I decide on a trip to the woods. “Let’s head to the
- [15 Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth (With Applications)](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/07/28/wherever-you-are-be-all-there/) - I once asked a friend how to discern spiritual growth. She said, "Are you more loving than you were a year ago? If so, you are growing." I took her words to heart. After she left, I began searching for Bible verses about spiritual growth. Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth I found the following 15
- [15 Bible Verses About Resisting Temptation](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/08/break-bad-habit/) - Five ways to break a bad habit
- [15 Powerful Bible Verses About Hope in Suffering](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/02/24/bible-verses-about-hope/) - Pale winter sunlight slips through the curtain, and splashes of cobalt rupture heaven’s veil. Winter feels long in these parts. Hard circumstances are unfolding in the world around us, and I open crinkled pages in search of a few Bible verses about hope in suffering. Regardless of its form, God invites us to draw near
- [15 Bible Verses for a Struggling Marriage](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/16/lean-into-grace-is-on-sale-now-and-reflections-on-trusting-god-in-all-circumstances/) - Even the strongest marriages go through difficult times. When these times come, our marriages need secure anchors to hold us through the storms of life. Today, we'll explore 15 Bible verses for a struggling marriage. Bible Verses for a Struggling Marriage I invite you to meditate on these words and apply them to your marriage.
- [8 Restoration Prayers With Scriptures](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/15/gods-restoration/) - A full moon lifts her pale face above the horizon as I amble along the snowy path. Blinded by the brilliance, I breathe deeply and pray for God's restoration washes over me. Perhaps you need this today as well. I invite you to join me as we explore eight restoration prayers with Scriptures to lift
- [15 Bible Verses for Wisdom and Guidance](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/02/01/teach-us-to-number-our-days-when-life-doesnt-go-as-planned/) - Are you seeking God's guidance as you step into an uncertain situation? Today, we'll explore 15 Bible verses for wisdom and guidance. I'll also share a testimony of applying this truth to an everyday interruption. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook to help you walk in
- [15 Bible Verses for Wives: Encouragement and Hope](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/03/29/permission-to-be-where-you-are/) - Many young girls dream of growing up, getting married, and raising families. When these dreams finally come true, they realize that being a wife is far more challenging than they imagined. Today, we'll explore 15 encouraging Bible verses for wives. Then, we'll look at a way to find great joy in our marriages and lives.
- [20 Bible Verses About Worship and Praise](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/06/04/how-to-choose-worship-over-worry-4-practical-tips/) - God's Word has a great deal to say about worship and praise. Today, we'll explore 20 powerful Bible verses about worship and praise. Then, we'll have an honest conversation about learning to exchange worry for worship. Also, be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook to help you
- [15 Bible Verses About God's Timing and Faithfulness](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/02/19/5-bible-verses-about-gods-timing-and-faithfulness/) - It's a cloudy Monday morning when I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about God's timing. Beside me, the amaryllis has burst into full bloom. It bows low under the weight of its heavy blossom. It seems ironic that after waiting for it to bloom for so long, the weight of the blossom
- [Thanksgiving Encouragement for When Thanksgiving Is Hard](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/11/15/thanksgiving-encouragement-for-the-hurting/) - Four pieces of advice when it's hard to give thanks at Thanksgiving
- [A Free Advent Devotional for Less Stress and Deeper Peace](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/26/a-free-advent-devotional-for-less-stress-and-deeper-peace/) - Two years ago, I released an Advent devotional aimed at helping others slow down and experience deeper peace throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas. This year, for a limited time, I'm offering this eBook for free. Below, you'll find an excerpt from the devotional. Be sure to read to the end of today's post
- [12 Empowering Scriptures on Insecurity](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/08/31/scriptures-on-insecurity/) - Most of us deal with insecurity. This week, let's take a few minutes to explore the ways comparison keeps us from fulfilling our God-given assignments and explore 12 powerful Scriptures on insecurity. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook to help you overcome insecurity. 12 Empowering Scriptures
- [14 Bible Verses for Anxiety and Fear](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/02/15/bible-verses-for-anxiety-and-fear/) - The amber light of morning finds me through a partially drawn curtain. Within the first moments of the day, my mind returns to a situation that's been filling me with anxious thoughts. "Not today, fear," I whisper, and I open my Bible in search of Truth. Instead of meditating on my fears today, I decide
- [How to Be Grateful to God in Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/07/12/how-to-be-grateful-in-hard-times-5-ways/) - We're a half mile from the truck when the sky opens wide and soaks us with silver beads the size of marbles. Hair matted beneath their bike helmets, the oldest two look at me with shining eyes and declare it the best bike ride of their lives. And to think, I hadn't seen it that
- [8 Reassuring Bible Verses About Patience](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/05/22/when-god-makes-you-wait/) - Explore the mindsets and attitudes that will help you as you wait for God's plan to unfold for your life.
- [How to Stop Worrying and Trust God in Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/01/17/how-to-stop-worrying-and-trust-god/) - I've been a worrier for as long as I can remember. Throughout the past decade, I've been on a journey of learning how to stop worrying and trust God with the parts of my life that are important to me. Maybe you can relate. It’s not easy to keep from falling apart when it looks
- [Help, I Feel Like I Don't Fit in](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/03/27/to-the-woman-who-feels-like-she-doesnt-belong/) - If you struggle with feeling less-than, left out, or like you don't belong, join us today for words of encouragement about how to overcome your fears.
- [10 Bible Verses for Burnout (Including Practical Ways to Recover)](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/29/6-ways-to-overcome-burnout/) - Bible truth and encouragement for seasons when you feel burned out, worn thin, and run down.
- [Sowing Spiritual Seeds: 8 Truths for When You Doubt Your Calling](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/03/05/sowing-spiritual-seeds-8-truths-to-encourage-you/) - When I became a teacher, I remember looking around and thinking, The needs are so great, and I'm only one person. What difference can I possibly make? The idea of sowing spiritual seeds for God's glory felt like a long shot. I was just trying to survive. Two decades later, I'm no longer teaching in
- [How to Empty Yourself and Let God Fill You](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/08/28/how-to-empty-yourself-and-let-god-fill-you/) - The syncopated sound of rain on a metal roof nearly lulls me to sleep on a grey afternoon. Life has been full lately, and this afternoon to rest is nothing short of a gift. Perhaps you need this gift, too—space to empty yourself and let God fill you. We'll talk about creating this space today.
- [I Have Called You By Name: Let This Change Your Life Forever](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/22/i-have-called-you-by-name/) - “But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1, ESV). We’re sitting in the fading light of a late-summer evening when Aiden, our youngest son, runs to me
- [God Loves You Even When You Don’t Feel Worthy](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/06/15/god-loves-you-even-when-you-dont-feel-worthy/) - A few years ago, an epic parenting failure left me feeling like the worst mom in the world. I imagine you’ve had a few of your own failures—moments when it was hard to believe that God loves you in the middle of your messiest moments. I'll share my story, and we'll talk about God's love.
- [A Short Prayer for Strength During Difficult Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/11/21/thanksgiving-inspiration-for-your-hurting-heart/) - Have you been walking through a difficult time in your life? Today, I invite you to join me during one of the most challenging years of my life, and I'll share a short prayer for strength during difficult times of all sorts. I pray these words lead you straight into the arms of your heavenly
- [What Does It Mean to Live Life to the Fullest?](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/01/the-secret-to-help-you-live-life-to-the-fullest/) - What does it mean to live life to the fullest? We live our best lives when we feel purposeful, fulfilled, and joyful. We're living to the fullest when everyday problems and stressors don't get the best of us. We're living to the fullest when we've learned to walk in peace regardless of our circumstances. We
- [8 Bible Verses About Courage for Your Insecure Moments](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/07/26/youre-wondering-really-takes/) - Do you wonder if you have what it takes to fulfill this call on your life? Do you wonder if you're hearing from God or just dreaming too big? Let's talk . . .
- [15 Powerful Bible Verses About Purpose in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/21/gods-purpose-for-your-life-2-insights-for-christmas-week/) - Winter fog huddles over the earth like a guest arriving late to a party that has long since drawn to a close. I've been feeling scattered and distracted by the needs surrounding me lately, and I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about purpose. Perhaps you want to know what the Bible says
- [Feeling Forgotten by God? This Is for You . . .](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/01/26/the-lord-sees-you-and-has-not-forgotten-you/) - A single oak leaf glides on the breath of dawn like it's in no particular hurry to meet its final resting place on the icy earth. I watch from the window and reflect on the events of the past day. We’ve been walking through some long months here, and a painful question lingers in my
- [15 Uplifting Bible Verses About Hope and Strength](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/01/05/jesus-is-my-hope/) - As the season changes here, I've been intermittently looking back and looking ahead. I'm reminding myself of one truth: Jesus is my hope for the future, and he is my hope in the face of my deepest disappointments. I've been soaking in God's Word, speaking Bible verses about hope and strength I invite you to
- [The Pain of Waiting on God: How to Endure It](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/05/17/what-to-do-while-youre-waiting-on-god/) - Five colorful bluegills swim in the shallows of the creek. They seem to be waiting for something. I watch them while the kids splash in the emerald swimming hole, and I get to thinking about the pain of waiting on God. Most of us are waiting on God for something. We're waiting to pay off
- [How to Find Freedom From Your Secret Sins](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/12/02/how-to-find-freedom-from-your-secret-sins/) - A hint of frost rests on the once-lavender heads of the Canada thistle today. I sit at the window with intentions to soak in God’s restorative presence, but what settles upon me sends a chill down the nape of my neck, like frost on a clear winter dawn. The chill is my body’s response to
- [God Pursues Us With Gifts: 8 Bible Verses About God Pursuing Us](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/05/13/god-pursues-us/) - The gray squirrel returned to the deck today. As warm spring days push back against the long winter, life seems to be reemerging. As I watched from my chair by the window, I sensed God's goodness, almost as if he were pursuing me. I opened my Bible in search of truth about God's love and
- [15 Bible Verses to Memorize: And 3 Tips to Help You](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/10/18/4-practical-tips-to-help-you-hide-gods-word-in-your-heart/) - Our thoughts determine our actions, and our actions determine the direction of our lives. When we hide God's Word in our hearts, his wisdom becomes a part of us. Today, we'll look at 15 powerful Bible verses to memorize as we aim to align ourselves with God. Be sure to read to the end of
- [Scriptures to Speak Over Your Child: 8 Powerful Verses](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/23/8-life-changing-prayers-for-your-children/) - Not long ago, one of our children was struggling with a challenging school year. As I aimed to help him navigate the difficult transition, I felt led to begin speaking biblical declarations over his life. Today, we'll look at 8 powerful Scriptures to speak over your child as declarations. These declarations changed the trajectory of
- [2 Mother Daughter Devotional Books for a Closer Relationship](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/11/29/a-mother-daughter-devotional-with-60-devotions-for-teen-girls/) - Do you want to help your daughter connect with God while growing closer together? My teen daughter, Bekah, and I are passionate about helping moms and daughters grow closer while connecting with God. For this reason, we have written two mother daughter devotional books together! Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship
- [Life-Changing Scripture About Leaning on God in Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/01/19/life-changing-scripture-about-leaning-on-god-in-tough-times/) - Dawn breaks beneath a bitter chill today. The sparrows don’t seem to mind. They chatter at the feeder while their Maker dabs the world with tufts of white lace. I watch from my spot by the window as I search for Scripture about leaning on God. Scripture About Leaning on God Winter is beginning to
- [Rejection Is God’s Protection: 8 Truths to Stand on](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/07/what-if-this-disappointment-is-gods-protection/) - Last year, I faced a crushing setback in my writing career. I almost walked away from writing to pursue a different line of work. Yet as I sorted through my emotions, one truth became clear: Often, rejection is God's protection. Perhaps you're facing painful rejection today, too. I encourage you to give yourself time to
- [16 Practical Ways to Keep Your Heart on Fire for God](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/08/30/on-fire-for-god/) - We gathered around the campfire as fireflies illuminated the hoary breath of dusk. As I watched the flames dance, I thought about my walk of faith and felt a deep desire to fan the flame of my passion for God. I want to be a woman who is on fire for God, and when I
- [A Prayer for God to Take Control in a Situation](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/08/on-giving-control-to-god-when-youd-rather-hold-onto-it-yourself/) - Snow falls like a million answers to all the wishes cast on shooting stars. I made a wish while the moon shined white last night. I whispered it in the quiet part of my heart where child-like hopes mingled with prayers. On the surface, it seemed to be a wish for everything to turn out
- [8 Christmas Bible Verses About Peace and Joy](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/12/18/christmas-bible-verses-about-peace/) - December rain falls cold and clear, washing away the mud-encrusted ice from children's footprints. I gaze at the scene from the window as I open my Bible in search of Christmas Bible verses about peace and joy. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free Advent devotional eBook. Christmas Bible
- [5 Encouraging Quotes for Struggling Moms and Weary Women](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/03/20/five-practical-tips-for-struggling-moms/) - Throughout the past 13 years, I’ve spent most of my time caring for our children. As we push through the end of another long winter, I hope to offer a few quotes for struggling moms and weary women. I pray these words will bless and encourage you as you continue pressing forward. You are not
- [10 Prayers for Direction and Clarity](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/02/12/10-prayers-for-direction-and-clarity/) - The old poplar stretches toward a cloudless sky as yesterday's snowflakes swirl in tiny cyclones below. I've been counting the lessons of winter as the snow piles higher. As I gaze out the window, I take the time to assess my life, my daily rhythms, and the state of my soul. I find myself lifting
- [7 Encouraging Bible Verses About Starting Over](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/04/19/new-beginnings-how-to-embrace-fresh-starts/) - A towering hemlock casts a sleepy shadow on bare earth, and a pine squirrel gnaws on a walnut from its unseen perch overhead. I am in the woods with a stack of books and a journal—intent on seeking God and as I ask him how to begin again after a setback in my life. Opening
- [What Is God's Will for My Life?  (10 Absolutes)](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/10/20/10-absolutes-that-are-always-gods-will-for-my-life-and-your-life-too/) - An oak leaf falls to its final resting place on pale grass—russet and scaled with age. I consider the sights it saw from its perch high above and imagine its six short months were filled with wonder. I’m in the woods tonight to pray about God’s will for my life. I’m not trying to discern
- [15 Powerful Bible Verses for Times of Trouble and Grief](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/04/29/6-powerful-bible-verses-for-times-of-trouble-and-crisis/) - Dawn comes quietly this time of year, the rising sun pushing out the chill of night. My heart is heavy as I watch the light ascend. Pulling out my Bible, I begin listing them: hope-filled Bible verses for times of trouble and grief. 15 Bible Verses for Times of Trouble Perhaps you need this encouragement
- [9 Bible Verses About Trusting God and Not Worrying](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/01/18/what-to-do-when-worry-consumes-you-with-10-bible-verses-for-worry/) - The winter wind writes its story in flourishes of ivory. As I stare out the window, I feel consumed by worries, and I open my Bible in search of comforting Bible verses about trusting God and not worrying. Perhaps you need this Truth to stand on in challenging times, too. Bible Verses About Trusting God
- [10 Ways to Connect With God When He Seems Distant](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/05/22/10-creative-ways-to-connect-with-god/) - Most mornings, I gaze at our bird feeder as I sit by the window to connect with God. Today, we awoke to an empty birdfeeder—scant sunflower seeds, black as coal, scattered beneath their plexiglass home. I watched as goldfinches and house sparrows searched the bottom of the feeder for seeds. They all flitted off disappointed,
- [Your Pain Has a Purpose, and This Is Part of It . . .](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/05/10/your-pain-has-a-purpose/) - A wide arc of geese honks overhead like a black thread woven through the grey. I watch them from the deck and remember a similar evening several years ago. I sat on this same deck and let these words wash over me: “Your pain has a purpose. Don’t rush through this valley of suffering.” I
- [6 Prayers for Loving Others Even When They're Hard to Love](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/05/21/prayers-for-loving-others/) - Years ago, God brought an acquaintance into my life who was hard to love. She often called me multiple times per day. She was easily offended and didn’t respect my boundaries. I felt called to continue loving her, but it wasn’t always easy. Today, we'll explore six prayers for loving others, especially when loving doesn't
- [Grow Closer to God: 15 Practical Ways to Deepen Your Relationship With Him](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/07/02/15-practical-ways-to-get-closer-to-god/) - Shortly after daybreak, I step outside and let the warm summer rain wash over me. Being in nature always feels like an invitation to grow closer to God. The water streams down my brow in tiny rivulets, and I amble down the muddy road. The cacophony of water falling on the canopy overhead drowns out
- [God Uses Broken Vessels, and He Wants to Use You](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/10/30/god-uses-broken-vessels/) - Have you ever felt too broken to be used by God? Bekah and I are sharing another devotion from our mother-daughter devotional book, Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls. Let's talk about the ways God uses broken vessels for his glory. This devotion is directed toward teen girls but
- [10 Bible Verses About the Unknown Future](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/07/31/how-to-have-no-fear-of-bad-news/) - How to live without fearing bad news, and how to trust God in the midst of uncertain circumstances.
- [Daily Devotions for Kids: Books by Kids for Kids](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/29/daily-devotions-for-kids-2-books-by-kids-for-kids/) - Are you looking for Christian daily devotions for kids? Our sons, Caleb and Aiden, are excited to join me in announcing the release of our new book, God's Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength. Additionally, our mother-daughter devotional books, Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship
- [10 Reasons to Trust God in Uncertain Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/04/09/10-reasons-to-trust-god-in-uncertain-times/) - Spring rain serenades us through the open window—singing a sweeter song than the frozen whisper of the winter we just endured. Looking back at what we’ve learned over the past few months, I’m reminded that God is just as trustworthy in the dark winters as in the hope-filled springtimes. Today, I’m sharing 10 reasons to
- [God's Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/15/gods-warrior-devotions-for-boys-who-want-to-grow-in-courage-and-strength/) - Do you know a boy who would be blessed by a devotional book to help him find strength from God? Our sons, Caleb and Aiden, are excited to join me in announcing the release of our new book, God's Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength. This devotional book is
- [How to Stay Focused on God: 8 Tips](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/24/how-to-stay-focused-on-god/) - As our family adjusts to the busy back-to-school season, I've been feeling pulled in dozens of different directions. By the grace of God, all three kids are participating in the same sport, cross-country, but we still feel stretched. I've been considering how to stay focused on God amid the noise and activity of this season.
- [What Happens When We Pray: 8 Benefits of Heartfelt Prayer](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/03/26/what-happens-when-we-pray-8-benefits/) - Twilight finds me in a stand of hardwoods, and I watch the canopy flourish in the evening’s marigold glow. I’ve come to the woods to talk to God. As I sit beneath a towering oak, I remind myself of what happens when we pray. What Happens When We Pray I spent the first part of
- [A Refiner's Fire Story and a Prayer for the Fires of Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/05/01/one-question-to-ask-when-youre-walking-through-the-refining-fire/) - One question to ask when God leads you through life's refining fires.
- [How to Cling to the Lord When You'd Rather Cling to Control](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/06/16/cling-to-the-lord/) - Recently, I sat with a friend in the sunshine as we caught up on life. We talked about our dreams, our families, and our desires to control our circumstances. We agreed that we want to cling to the Lord instead of clinging to control but walking it out often feels impractical. Most of us want
- [8 Bible Verses for Brokenness, Loss, and Suffering](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/09/27/7-insights-for-when-you-feel-broken-inside/) - The first storm of fall comes with gusty gales and breaks loose the brittle branches and untethered leaves. I have a deep sense of my own brokenness as the leaves scatter across the yard, and a question stirs in my heart: If God uses brokenness for good, how do we turn to God and find
- [How to Give Thanks to God in Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/08/24/how-to-give-thanks-to-the-lord-when-life-is-hard/) - Not long ago, I sat down with an older, wiser woman, and we had an honest conversation about our lives. We talked about how to give thanks to God in tough times, and she shared her wisdom and experience. No matter what you're facing today, if you can learn to cultivate gratitude in difficult seasons,
- [4 Signs That God Is Pruning You](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/07/17/signs-that-god-is-pruning-you/) - Do you sense that God is pruning you and cutting away parts of your life that aren’t bearing fruit? Today, I invite you to join me as I stand on our front stoop, and we’ll talk about the signs that God is pruning you. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for
- [10 Bible Verses About Victory in Jesus](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/05/19/dont-give-up-in-the-valley-of-affliction/) - It rained last night—a penetrating, drenching rain. I sat beside the window this morning as robins pranced across the soggy earth, my heart feeling as melancholy as the grey sky above. Opening my Bible in search of Bible verses about victory in Jesus, I let the words wash over me. Bible Verses About Victory in
- [How to Reconnect With God: 11 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/01/how-to-reconnect-with-god/) - I periodically experience times when God seems distant. For no identifiable reason, I feel disconnected from him. I don’t sense his presence during worship; prayer feels like a chore instead of a life-giving time of connection; and reading my Bible feels like a task on my to-do list rather than reading a letter from the
- [8 Bible Verses About Change and Transition](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/11/01/3-insights-on-handling-change-with-grace/) - The cobalt skies have faded to grey, and aside from a few crumpled leaves, the poplar tree beside our house has shed her summer foliage. Most of the leaves are scattered on the deck in shades of burnt sienna, and I don’t have the heart to sweep them away just yet. I’ve never been great
- [10 Bible Verses About Enjoying Life and Embracing Your Journey](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/03/12/embracing-your-journey/) - "God's gifts are woven into every journey," a friend once reminded me. "Embracing your journey happens when you learn to see the gifts, especially the ones hidden beneath challenges." Today, we'll talk about how to embrace our journeys. Then, we'll explore ten Bible verses about enjoying life more fully. Be sure to read to the
- [Prayers for Broken Hearts: 5 Prayers for Comfort and Healing](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/04/17/prayers-for-broken-hearts/) - It's not easy to know how to pray for a broken heart. Whether you are hurting or you want to pray for a loved one who is suffering, today we'll explore five comforting prayers for broken hearts. My hope is that these prayers will offer healing and hope to those who are hurting today. I
- [10 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About God Being With Us](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/14/immanuel-god-with-us-how-watching-for-him-changes-everything/) - The angel watches over us from her crooked perch atop the Christmas tree, and it takes everything within me not to climb on top of the TV stand to straighten her out. Could it be that Immanuel, God with us, smiles at our efforts to celebrate his birth? Today, we'll explore 10 encouraging Bible verses
- [8 Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/12/8-prayers-for-hope-in-difficult-times/) - Instead of sitting in my usual chair beside the window, I recently went to the porch at daybreak. Something about being immersed in the morning light felt nothing short of redemptive. Opening my journal, I was reminded of a different season. The page offered prayers for hope in difficult times. Prayers for Hope in Difficult
- [10 Inspiring Scriptures on the Goodness of God](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/11/24/god-gives-good-gifts-and-has-a-surprising-invitation-for-you/) - I sit by the window as God infuses the sky with light, and I begin the day in my usual way. I open God's Word. Today, I'm searching for Scriptures on the goodness of God. 10 Scriptures on the Goodness of God As the lavender glow of dawn washes over me, I soak in the
- [What Is the Spirit of Offense & How to Overcome It](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/05/07/what-is-the-spirit-of-offense-how-to-overcome-it/) - As a young woman, I blamed God for almost every unfortunate turn of events in my life. This spirit of offense led me to blame him for everything from shattered athletic dreams to hard breakups. At the time, I was largely unaware of the enemy’s schemes. I had not yet learned that Satan’s primary battle
- [8 Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/23/how-to-find-rest-in-god-amid-the-chaos-of-your-life/) - I walked in the winter forest last night. On the cusp of twilight, a million snowflakes clung to the outstretched arms of the maples. Stopping to sit among them, I pulled out my Bible in search of Bible verses about finding rest in God. With cares so heavy I hesitated to name them, I soaked
- [Read These 10 Bible Verses When You Feel Like No One Cares About You](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/10/06/god-cares-about-you-10-bible-verses-to-stand-on-in-tough-times/) - Above the tree line, the alpine grasses shiver in the wind while a pika no bigger than my fist eyes me from a rocky alcove. I'm 20 years old, and I've been climbing mountains all summer while running from a long list of mistakes. I know my family loves and cares about me deeply, but
- [12 Ways to Destroy the Works of the Devil](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/04/30/12-ways-to-destroy-the-works-of-the-devil/) - Over the water of a still lake, a cluster of hardwoods casts russet shadows. I’m in the forest tonight because I need this space to sort through a series of challenges our family has been facing. I sense we’ve been facing one spiritual attack after another, but I realize that we cannot destroy the works
- [10 Bible Verses About Celebrating Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/02/01/the-power-of-celebration/) - The importance of celebrating small moments and slowing down to enjoy life
- [8 Encouraging Bible Verses About Overcoming Adversity](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/03/23/the-surprising-truth-about-pushing-through-pain/) - Are you facing a difficult time or walking through a challenging season in your life? Today, we'll explore eight Bible verses about overcoming adversity as we align ourselves with God's perspective. Let's start with a conversation about embracing adversity instead of running from it. Bible Verses About Overcoming Adversity I take the boys to the
- [10 Spiritual Reflection Questions for Growth and Renewal](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/04/23/10-spiritual-reflection-questions-for-growth-and-renewal/) - Every three months, I set aside time to reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m going. I use this time to rewrite my goals and ask God to give me a vision for the upcoming season. Today, I’m sharing the spiritual reflection questions I use during these times. Be sure to read to the
- [10 Anchoring Bible Verses for Uncertainty in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/02/27/five-truths-uncertain-future/) - Are you facing an uncertain future? Find out how to set your feet on solid ground and walk by faith when your uncertain future is eating you alive.
- [6 Encouraging Prayers for Hopeless Situations](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/04/24/prayers-for-hopeless-situations/) - I recently went to the woods to talk to God about a situation that felt hopeless. Perhaps you're facing some challenging circumstances, too. You are in the right place. Today, we'll unpack six prayers for hopeless situations as we press into our true Source of hope. We are never without hope when we learn where
- [10 Prayers for Teachers This School Year](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/08/20/10-prayers-for-teachers-this-school-year/) - Over the years, the end of August has always marked the beginning of the new school year, a time filled with expectant prayers for teachers and students. Twenty years ago, this time of year meant something very different to me than it does now. As a high school teacher, this season was filled with anticipation
- [10 Bible Verses About God’s Provision in Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/30/the-assignment-you-didnt-choose-and-the-truth-about-gods-provision/) - Are you facing an assignment you didn't choose for yourself? If so, let's turn to God's Word for 10 Bible verses about God's provision as we walk through all sorts of difficulties. I invite you to join me as I wrestled with an unexpected assignment and doubted God's provision. Be sure to read to the
- [10 Spiritual Warfare Prayers for Such a Time as This](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/12/10-spiritual-warfare-prayers-for-deliverance-and-healing/) - The spiritual climate surrounding us is becoming increasingly evil. As we aim to shine God's light into this darkness, let's not forget that spiritual forces move in response to our prayers. Today, we'll join together in praying 10 spiritual warfare prayers for our personal lives and for the world around us. Be sure to read
- [7 Refreshing Bible Verses (and 11 Ways to Be Refreshed)](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/04/05/how-to-refresh-your-mind-11-quick-ways/) - Yesterday morning, I awoke with a deep desire to go to the woods—to inhale the scent of the creek bottom, decomposing maple leaves, and pungent earth. As I sat with my Bible, I was reminded that God wanted to renew my mind with his written Word, and I let the following refreshing Bible verses wash
- [7 Bible Verses About Rushing Through Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/10/14/why-being-in-a-hurry-is-stealing-your-joy/) - I sit in the woods on a warm autumn afternoon, and the golden canopy gazes down like God bottled up all the happiness in the world and imbibed it into the maples. Going to the woods is my way of stepping out of life's hurried rhythms. Today, I open my Bible in search of Bible
- [20 Mother Daughter Prayers for a Closer Relationship](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/04/15/two-unique-mother-daughter-gifts-for-mothers-day/) - I recently went for a long walk with our teenage daughter and was inspired to be more intentional about praying with her and for her. Today, I'm sharing the mother daughter prayers that are helping me lift her before God's throne more consistently. If you're looking for prayers to pray over your mother-daughter relationship, I
- [8 Ways to Resist the Devil and Live in Victory](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/06/25/8-ways-to-resist-the-devil-and-live-in-victory/) - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 “We need to be careful not to give the enemy too much credit,” a wise friend recently pointed out. “Satan does attack us, but we also face attacks simply because we live in a fallen world, and our flesh
- [8 Encouraging Bible Verses About Change in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/07/15/how-to-embrace-change-when-life-gets-flipped-upside-down/) - I wrote this post about how to embrace change as we adjusted to life with a tiny new member of the family. If you feel like any area of your life has been flipped upside down lately, these words are for you. Be sure to keep reading to the end of the post for
- [10 Bible Verses About Passion and Purpose in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/06/19/how-to-have-a-purposeful-life/) - If you long for greater joy, purpose, and passion in your life, join us here to uncover four ways to step into the abundant life you crave.
- [7 Bible Verses About Being Stuck (and Tips for Breaking Free)](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/03/06/help-i-feel-stuck-in-life-5-ways-to-get-unstuck/) - Somewhere along the thin line between night's inky darkness and the hoary glow of daybreak, I place a flat palm on the frosted windowpane. It’s late winter in our world. I feel stuck inside and stuck in life today. Opening my Bible, I begin my search for Bible verses about being stuck in life. We
- [7 Prayers of Thanksgiving for Even the Toughest Days](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/19/7-prayers-of-thanksgiving-no-matter-what-youre-facing/) - We awoke to a periwinkle drizzle, tears of firmament clinging to spruce boughs and unadorned oak branches. As I watched the day begin, I focused on prayers of Thanksgiving, fixing my eyes on what was true, lovely, right, pure, and good. As always, the practice of giving thanks shifted my mood. After spending a few
- [7 Powerful Scriptures for Spiritual Attacks](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/05/14/7-powerful-scriptures-for-spiritual-attacks/) - I spent most of my life assuming that fearful thoughts, negative circumstances, and challenging situations were “just happening to me.” Over time, I learned that the spiritual realm is just as real as the physical realm; furthermore, we can fight back against the spiritual forces of evil. Today, we’ll look at seven Scriptures for spiritual
- [10 Empowering Bible Verses About Feeling Defeated](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/09/20/feeling-defeated-5-scriptures-on-overcoming-discouragement/) - Outside the window, the goldenrod fields have shifted from emerald to buttery gold. Frost will come soon, and any hint of color will be swallowed up by the monochrome beige of winter. I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about feeling defeated because I sense I’ll need them throughout the long months ahead.
- [10 Biblical Affirmations for Kids of All Ages](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/10/10-one-liners-to-develop-your-childs-identity/) - Ten statements to help your child build an identity upon a foundation that can never be shaken.
- [7 Uplifting Prayers of Gratitude to God](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/06/19/every-good-and-perfect-gift-in-your-life/) - Nightfall welcomes a resplendent moon, and I admire it from the window. As I watch the first stars emerge, my heart fills with thankfulness, inspiring me to draw near to my Creator with prayers of gratitude to God. Today, I'm sharing seven prayers of gratitude to God with hopes to inspire your prayer life as
- [10 Bible Verses About the Beauty of Nature](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/12/19/five-ways-to-unrush-your-life/) - Ideas, tips, and resources for spending time in nature with your family as you unrush your hurried life and live more intentionally.
- [8 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About the Storms of Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/09/14/8-hope-filled-bible-verses-about-life-struggles-and-stormy-seas/) - We all face storms in life. If you feel like your ship is about to sink, let's dig into God's Word together as we uncover eight hope-filled Bible verses about the storms of life. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional to help you weather life's most difficult
- [8 Bible Verses on Breaking Negative Cycles](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/09/06/how-chasing-beauty-can-change-your-life/) - I stand in front of the cupboard and stare blankly. I'm not hungry, but this cupboard is where I come to escape when the kids are fighting and the walls are closing in. I know what I should do. I should open my Bible and read through my list of Bible verses on breaking negative
- [10 Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/11/17/how-to-live-life-in-the-present-instead-of-chasing-performance/) - What do you want your life to be about? I asked myself this question the other day as dawn ascended in shades of lilac over the tree line. Opening my Bible in search of Bible verses about dwelling in the presence of God, I thought about learning to embrace more of life's moments, cultivating joy,
- [10 Refreshing Bible Verses for the Weary and Burdened](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/01/08/bible-verses-about-heavy-burdens/) - If you are feeling weary and burdened, these words offer Bible verses about heavy burdens and examples of burdens in life, as well as insight on prayer
- [11 Bible Verses About Feeling Empty Inside](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/22/what-to-do-when-you-feel-empty-inside/) - Snow is sparse on the muddied earth, and I'm not so sure I want to get out of bed and face the day. I should probably find my Bible and look up some Bible verses about feeling empty, but I lack the motivation. Instead, five simple words scroll across my mind. They're the words of Leanna
- [10 Encouraging Christmas Verses About Hope](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/29/10-encouraging-christmas-verses-about-hope/) - As I sit in the forest, my bones throb with the cold ache of winter. The creek flows soundlessly—waiting for freeze-up. I’ve come to the woods to connect with my Creator, and I pull out my Bible in search of Christmas verses about hope to prepare my heart for the month ahead. Christmas Verses About
- [8 Bible Verses About Being Worthy Enough in God's Eyes](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/08/17/how-does-god-see-me/) - Our ideas about the way God sees us radically impact our lives. Today, we'll explore eight Bible verses about being worthy enough in God's eyes. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook for overcoming doubt and insecurity. First, I invite you to join me at the creek
- [15 Bible Verses for Mothers and Daughters](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/27/exciting-news-were-launching-a-tween-and-teen-girl-devotional-blog/) - Are you a mother or daughter in search of wisdom and guidance in your mother-daughter relationship? Today, I invite you to join me as we open God's Word in search of encouraging Bible verses for mothers and daughters of all ages. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional
- [8 Comforting Bible Verses for Trials and Tribulations](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/03/30/what-god-is-doing-in-the-fiery-trials-of-your-life/) - Are you walking through a difficult time in your life? No matter what you're facing today, God wants to encourage your heart. He is with you, and he will never abandon you. Let's take a look at eight comforting Bible verses for trials and tribulations. I also invite you to read to the end of
- [10 Bible Verses to Calm Anxiety and Fear](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/09/18/10-bible-verses-to-calm-fear-and-anxiety/) - The sky glows roseate as the sun ascends silently, and I gaze out the window. Instead of embracing the moment, I realize that my chest feels tight with some unidentified source of anxiety. "Lord, show me what I need to know," I whisper. Opening my Bible, I begin listing them in my journal: Bible verses
- [15 Bible Verses About Breakthrough](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/01/09/one-thing-that-matters-more-than-your-breakthrough/) - Encouragement for your seasons of waiting and times when God seems silent
- [12 Scriptures About Being Victorious in Life's Battles](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/08/02/walking-in-victory-scriptures/) - Vacation is a wonderful time to make memories, grow in relationships, and find refreshment.
- [10 Tension-Easing Bible Verses for Stress at Work](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/09/04/10-tension-easing-bible-verses-for-stress-at-work/) - The creek writes its story in splashes of emerald and sandstone brown. I sit beside its clear waters with a heavy heart. The year is 2003, and I’ve just started my teaching career. Much to my frustration, the demands of the job are quickly shattering my dreamy ideals. I pull out my Bible as I
- [15 Bible Verses About Unconditional Love](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/08/16/how-to-love-others-when-they-interrupt-your-plans/) - I recently sat beside the window with a throbbing head. It had been a long day, and the needs of our children felt endless. Feeling like I didn't have the strength to go downstairs and prepare dinner, I opened my Bible in search of some encouraging Bible verses about unconditional love. Bible Verses About Unconditional
- [15 Bible Verses on Deliverance From Strongholds](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/01/06/bible-verses-on-deliverance/) - A row of house sparrows adorns the deck railing out the window. Against winter's white curtain, they are captivating tufts of movement and life. I need these beacons of hope today as I open my Bible in search of Bible verses on deliverance from strongholds. Perhaps you need this encouragement today as well. We'll look
- [15 Bible Verses About the Presence of God](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/04/03/enjoying-the-presence-of-god/) - Mirrored on sleek water, the expanse of sapphire sky comes down to touch us. My little boy presses a delicate fingertip into its blue, and it feels like heaven has come to dwell among us. God's Word has a great deal to say about the presence of God. Today, we'll explore 15 Bible verses about
- [8 Thanksgiving Prayer Points With Scriptures to Guide You](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/03/27/thanksgiving-prayer-points-with-scriptures/) - Another grey sky greeted us this morning. I went to the window and watched the raindrops cling to the spruce needles like tiny, translucent pearls. Pulling out my Bible for guidance, I began thanking God for his goodness as I prayed. In the process, God lifted my head and encouraged my heart. If this kind
- [15 Scriptures to Destroy the Works of the Enemy](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/10/04/truth-for-spiritual-attacks-and-15-spiritual-warfare-scriptures/) - We are living in difficult times. Now, more than ever, let's cling to God's Word as we face the spiritual darkness surrounding us. Today, we'll take a closer look at 15 powerful Scriptures to destroy the works of the enemy. Speak these verses out loud when you sense you are under attack and as you
- [10 Encouraging Bible Verses for Struggling Moms](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/05/24/giving-thanks-for-the-wearying-workload/) - Encouragement for the weary mom who feels resentful about the size of her workload, the ingratitude of her children, and the cyclic nature of her calling
- [10 Bible Verses for Weariness (Plus 5 Tips for Weary Days)](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/02/26/overcoming-exhaustion/) - The snow blows past like a horizontal wall of white. I stare at the thousands of tiny flakes like maybe this is heaven’s way of touching this muddy earth. I'm running on fumes all over again this morning, and I open my Bible in search of a few Bible verses for weariness. Maybe you can
- [15 Bible Verses About Patience in Hard Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/02/28/being-patient-and-kind-when-your-plans-are-interrupted/) - I don't do well with interrupted plans. If you have trouble being patient and kind when your plans are interrupted, this is for you. We'll begin by looking at 15 Bible verses about patience in hard times. Then, we'll discuss ways to exude patience when our plans are interrupted. Be sure to read to the
- [15 Bible Verses About Joy in the Lord](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/07/26/rest-with-god/) - Not long ago, our family went to the cabin because we needed space to rest with God. We craved downtime for sitting beside smoldering campfires and soaking in the afternoon sunshine along the reservoir. Because my joy was lacking, I needed to open God's Word and soak in replenishing Bible verses about joy in the
- [10 Scriptures About Trusting God in Difficult Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/29/three-things-to-remember-in-the-valley/) - Three Biblical truths for hard times and valleys. These truths will encourage your soul.
- [Why Is It Important to Know Your Identity in Christ?](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/08/30/can-stop-trying-hard-prove/) - We don't have to prove ourselves when we're grounded in the truth of our identities.
- [7 Stress Relief Bible Verses About Worry](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/04/01/stress-relief-bible-verses-about-worry-and-stress/) - After a long winter, a hint of auburn crowns the tree line on the eastern horizon. The buds are emerging on the maples. I've been feeling anxious about some changes that will take place in our next season. In response, I open my Bible in search of stress relief Bible verses about worry and stress
- [10 Bible Verses for Strength and Healing](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/01/31/storms-keep-rolling-youre-looking-hope/) - Where do we find lasting hope when life gets hard, trials come, and circumstances are difficult? We turn to Jesus, who walks with us through every storm.
- [When God Interrupts Your Plans: 3 Steps to Take](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/06/20/when-god-interrupts-your-plans/) - Encouragement for the times when God interrupts your plans and your life takes detours
- [How to Keep Your Joy in the Lord: 7 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/06/26/how-to-keep-your-joy-in-the-lord/) - Daylight met us without hesitation today—clear and blue as infinity. As I sat beside the window and prepared for another day, I felt the heaviness in my chest and realized my joy was lacking. Perhaps you can relate. You want to learn how to keep your joy in the Lord even when life feels challenging.
- [5 Prayers for Insecurity: When You Wonder If You Fit in](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/09/prayers-for-insecurity/) - Do you ever walk into crowded places and wonder where you fit in? Maybe you feel like you don't fit in at all. Most of us have felt this way. Today, we'll explore five empowering prayers for insecurity as we aim to overcome our fears of rejection. I invite you to join me as I
- [15 Bible Verses About Waiting on God](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/10/17/how-waiting-on-god-just-might-open-the-doors-of-abundance/) - If you're in a season of waiting, join us here to read how to shift your focus and reframe your season of waiting.
- [10 Bible Verses About God's Plan for Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/08/21/when-god-changes-your-plans/) - We all face times when God changes our plans. He sends roadblocks to redirect paths that appeared to be smooth and clear. He permits detours that feel more like derailments. Today, we'll explore ten Bible verses about God's plan. First, I invite you to join me as I climbed a mountain alongside my 13-year-old daughter,
- [10 Comforting Bible Verses for the Death of a Loved One](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/01/27/6-ways-to-find-comfort-in-grief-and-loss/) - I light a white candle, and it casts long shadows on the wall. As the flame flickers, I open my Bible in search of comforting Bible verses for the death of a loved one. Close friends recently lost a beloved relative, and the heavy cloud of loss has settled like a cloak over us all.
- [God’s Purpose for the Storms of Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/17/the-storms-of-life-2/) - The sky opened wide this afternoon, and raindrops the size of marbles splashed in tiny pools upon our faces. We ran through the forest as thunder growled, surprised that the canopy overhead did so little to protect us from the rain. I had no way of knowing that the afternoon thundershower was about to be
- [5 New Year Prayer Points for a Fresh Start](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/01/new-year-prayer-points/) - I meander slowly through a forest encased in white. Strangers' footprints delineate the path through crusty layers that have thawed and frozen a dozen times. I'm in the woods today to regroup and focus on the months ahead. The New Year always feels like a fresh start. Today, I invite you to join me as
- [A Spiritual Warfare Workbook for Overcoming the Enemy](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/12/06/spiritual-attack/) - Why This Spiritual Attack Is Not Against Your Finances, Your Health, or Your Car
- [5 Powerful Truths About Trusting God in the Valley](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/06/27/some-lessons-only-come-in-the-valley/) - Your valley might be dark, but God will help you overcome this trial. Some lessons can only be learned in the valleys of life.
- [10 Bible Verses About Waiting Patiently for God's Perfect Timing](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/03/01/5-promises-fearful-hurting-waiting-heart/) - 5 Bible truths for times of waiting, hurting, or worrying
- [10 Bible Verses About Serving Others in Hidden Places](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/10/27/3-bible-verses-about-serving-others-in-hidden-places/) - Do you feel weary as you continue to invest in a calling that feels hidden and difficult? If so, you are not alone. Pull up a chair, and we'll explore 10 Bible verses about serving others in hidden places today. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook
- [10 Bible Verses About Glorifying God in All We Do](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/05/03/there-are-no-small-moments/) - Embracing everyday moments as divine opportunities opens us up to walk in the fullest kind of living.
- [Knowing Jesus: Four Ways to Go Deeper in Your Relationship](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/05/04/knowing-jesus-four-ways-to-go-deeper-in-your-relationship/) - The peepers sing their sweet serenade while raindrops crackle like fire licking up a pine bough. I search the skyline for a hint of lingering daylight and breathe a prayer that God will take me deeper on this journey of knowing Jesus through experience. “What do I need to know as we prepare to head
- [Living in the Presence of God: 3 Ways to Increase Your Awareness](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/11/18/how-to-be-present-to-your-actual-life/) - Most mornings, I sit beside our dining room window as first light ascends from behind the eastern tree line. I sit here to get my bearings at the start of each new day. I also sit here because this practice is teaching me about living in the presence of God. I've learned that when I
- [7 Practical Ways to Show Grace to Others](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/15/how-to-manage-interruptions/) - Embracing interruptions is energizing and important in following God.
- [10 Bible Verses About Trusting God's Timing](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/09/25/trusting-gods-timing-when-life-is-disappointing/) - Today, I'm sharing a lesson I learned the hard way several years ago when a painful disappointment left me reeling in defeat. If you need encouragement about trusting God's timing when life is disappointing, these words are also for you today. Here are 10 Bible verses about trusting God's timing. Be sure to read to
- [9 Bible Verses to Calm Fear and Anxiety](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/07/03/the-unshakable-truth-that-will-drive-out-your-fears/) - When your uncertain future has you trembling with fear, cling to these five Biblical truths and cast out fear with God's love and his promises.
- [8 Scriptures on Purpose and Vision for Challenging Seasons](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/03/03/for-when-youre-struggling-with-life-and-resisting-your-calling/) - I wake up grumpy after a particularly difficult week of teaching my kindergartner while the one-year-old howls from the high chair. There's no way around it: I'm struggling with life. I didn't sign up for this. Pulling out my Bible, I begin digging for Scriptures on purpose and vision. Maybe you need these words today,
- [8 Bible Verses About Letting Go and Trusting God](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/11/08/4-ways-god-works-all-things-together-for-good/) - This morning, I was startled to find the wood line painted grey. The bleak scene mirrored the state of my soul. Letting go and trusting God with my life felt nearly impossible. Opening, my Bible, I began copying a list of Bible verses about letting go and trusting God. Bible Verses About Letting Go Here
- [7 Powerful Daily Prayers for Your Children](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/06/06/pray-big-prayers-for-your-little-ones/) - 8 Prayers for our children straight from God's Word
- [How to Stop Worrying and Start Trusting God: 8 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/29/how-to-stop-worrying-and-start-trusting-god-8-ways/) - Wolf Creek swells with freeze-up. Spilling its saffron onto the bleach-white bank like an unwanted stain on a clean tablecloth, I wonder how far the water will rise before the ice has done its work. I decide not to worry about the way this valley will soon change. Meanwhile, the scene leads me to think
- [God's Assignment for You: 7 Keys to Fulfilling Your Purpose](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/09/28/how-to-be-more-like-jesus/) - First light pours through the curtain slow and thick, like buttermilk. I am weary today. I want to embrace God's assignment for my life, but there are days when I struggle to live with a sense of purpose. If you can relate, you're in the right place. Today, we'll explore seven insights about God's assignment
- [8 Bible Verses About Renewing Your Mind](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/27/how-to-renew-your-mind-from-negative-thoughts/) - I recently set out on a slow walk down our country road as the sun set behind the barren maple forest. I had no way of knowing that the walk was going to be a lesson in renewing my mind. Today, I'll share my reflections from the road. Then, we'll explore eight Bible verses about
- [The Blessings of Trusting God in Pain and Suffering](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/01/24/the-treasures-hidden-in-your-pain-and-suffering/) - I’m cleaning out the basket above the fridge when I discover a tattered calendar. Opening it, I flip through the empty pages. I remember the year vividly. It was a year marked by pain and suffering. Illness kept the calendar blank for months. At the time, I was blind to the blessings of trusting God
- [A Free 2025 New Year Devotional to Help You Connect With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/12/26/2025-new-year-devotional/) - Do you want to start 2025 by renewing your commitment to spend time with God? Today, I have a free 2025 New Year devotional for you. Mornings With Jesus will help you connect with Jesus every morning for the next 31 days! I originally wrote this devotional several years ago, but I have updated it
- [A Fresh Take on How to Love God With All Your Heart](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/05/11/how-to-love-god-with-all-your-heart-by-loving-others/) - Morning opens her mouth with a foggy breath, and the earth cups the grey mist in its lowest places. I sit by the window and get lost in the glory of it all. I begin most days in this spot, and as I lean into the mist this morning, my mind is full. Maybe you
- [God Is Sufficient When You’re Weak, Worn, and Weary](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/08/03/god-is-sufficient-when-youre-weak-worn-and-weary/) - A skirmish of maple leaves flutters to the earth—the color of moonrise on a cloudless night. It’s early in the season for falling leaves, but perhaps these leaves have grown tired from holding on. I’m tired tonight, too. I could use a gentle reminder that God is sufficient to help me in my weak, worn,
- [8 Bible Verses About Abundant Life in Christ](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/10/13/how-to-live-the-dream-3-powerful-scriptures-on-abundance/) - The hayfield has been reduced to prickly stubble, and I wonder if the lush roots grieve what's been lost. As the geese honk overhead, I stare at the sky and ask God to lead me into a more abundant life in Christ. I pull out my Bible in search of Bible verses about abundant life
- [5 Life-Changing Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/04/14/life-changing-prayers-of-hope-for-tough-times/) - Thin bands of ivory lace the spines of the spruce’s outstretched boughs. As I admire them, I wrestle with the difficult circumstances surrounding me. Closing my eyes, I ask God to guide me in praying prayers of hope in difficult times. If you're struggling through challenging circumstances today, these prayers are also for you. God
- [3 Ways to Fall More Deeply in Love With Jesus](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/02/16/two-ways-to-fall-more-deeply-in-love-with-jesus/) - The old sycamore leans over the icy creekbed with shoulders washed white by the weather. Closing my eyes, I inhale the scent of the forest and pray that I might learn to embrace my moments and fall more deeply in love with Jesus in the process. For the past few years, I’ve been learning to
- [Keys to Spiritual Growth: 4 Ways to Develop Spiritual Maturity](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/04/10/keys-to-spiritual-growth/) - Last spring, the week after we bought a new furnace, I walked into the laundry room to discover a sudsy, wet floor. The washing machine had broken, too. Of course. As I stared at the soapy water, I had no idea that God was going to use the situation to remind me of several life-changing
- [A Calming Prayer for Anxiety, Worry, and Fear](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/06/07/a-calming-prayer-for-when-life-feels-out-of-control/) - The hollow growl of a thunderstorm awakens me well past midnight. I turn to look out the open window and watch the skyline flicker white. Four sleepless hours later, I lie on my back and utter a calming prayer with the hopes of quieting the noise inside my head . . . A Calming Prayer
- [Has God Abandoned Me?  7 Promises for Your Hurting Heart](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/03/has-god-abandoned-me-7-promises-for-your-hurting-heart/) - I awaken to the sound of wind rattling the windowpanes. Rain beats against the house like an intruder attempting to break through the walls, and I pray the old windowpanes can keep it at bay. When the storms of life rage, it’s easy to look to the ominous sky and ask, “Has God abandoned me
- [When God Closes a Door, Ask Yourself This Question](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/09/23/ask-yourself-this-question-if-youre-struggling-with-unfulfilled-dreams/) - I sit with a friend and admire the daylilies as they bow low beneath the afternoon sun. I've just told her about a recent disappointment, and my heart is heavy. I thought God was leading one way, but the door slammed shut in my face. When God closes a door, it can be hard to
- [8 Life-Changing Prayers for Your Daughter](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/03/22/8-life-changing-prayers-for-your-daughter/) - Last night, I followed my daughter through a withered field of wildflowers as dusk chased us toward the forest. Often, I silently pray for her as we walk along this trail. I pray for her friendships, her faith, her worries, and her dreams. I pray for God to guide our conversations and unite our hearts.
- [God’s Power in Us: Power Perfected in Weakness](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/05/01/gods-power-in-us/) - Thirteen years ago, I became a mom, and life as I had known it changed forever. Today, I invite you to join me in the hospital room at the beginning of my motherhood journey, and we'll talk about experiencing God's power in us when we feel weak. Be sure to read to the end of
- [When Trusting God With Your Future Doesn't Come Easily](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/01/12/trusting-god-with-your-future-in-uncertain-times/) - We threw out the old calendar—the one with the tattered edges and scratched-out plans—and we burned it to ash last week. We watched the flames lick it up like they were happy to say goodbye to the year and all it held. As I watched the tangerine flames dance in the wind, I considered the
- [Bible Verses About Closed Doors and Disappointments](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/04/26/when-god-closes-a-door-he-opens-a-window-or-does-he/) - A scrim of periwinkle clouds hangs low in the morning blue. I stand at the window and admire the scene with an aching heart. The thrum of disappointment beats in cadence with my pulse, and I think of an often-repeated adage: "When God closes a door, he opens a window." I'm not sure who said
- [20 Words of Affirmation for Every Child](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/05/29/positive-things-to-say-to-your-child/) - I want to build my kids up with the words I speak. Meanwhile, I've learned that I need to be intentional in this pursuit. It's easy to get pulled into the rhythms of our busy lives and neglect opportunities to affirm our kids. If this resonates with you, here are 20 words of affirmation for
- [What Does It Mean to Lay Down Your Life for God?](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/08/26/why-today-is-the-day-to-risk-for-love/) - Have you ever wondered what it means to lay down your life for God and others? Jesus spoke the following words to his disciples: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13, NIV). Perhaps you want to know how to live this out. I invite you
- [Feeling Left Out?  This Is for You . . .](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/07/05/anyone-whos-last-one-chosen/) - How to find confidence when you feel left out and comfort in the fact that you are chosen by Christ.
- [7 Bible Verses About God's Plan and Timing](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/09/gods-plans-for-your-life/) - Have you been searching for God's plans for your life? I'm Stacey, and my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I are excited to share our hearts with readers of all ages as we aim to walk in God's will. Thanks for connecting with us as we explore seven Bible verses about God's plan and timing. Be
- [How to Bear Fruit When You Feel Worn and Weary](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/06/14/how-to-bear-fruit-and-not-be-a-grumpy-christian/) - We set a vase of wildflowers on the table last week, and they felt like tangible beacons of joy. I gazed at them while I made the morning coffee and prayed about how to bear fruit amid these energetic summer days—days with all three children home and many needs surrounding me. After the coffee was
- [7 Bible Verses About Your Calling in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/03/24/the-surprising-truth-about-gods-calling-for-your-life/) - When God calls you to follow him, he offers something more powerful than a plan. Today we'll explore seven Bible verses about your calling in life and apply these truths to our lives. Let's begin by turning to God's Word for insight into his calling. 7 Bible Verses About Your Calling in Life Scripture offers
- [8 Bible Verses for When You Are Scared of the Future](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/06/21/when-he-speaks-your-name/) - When Christ calls your name, everything changes.
- [7 Bible Verses for Frustration: Reclaiming God's Peace](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/07/21/how-to-turn-your-day-around/) - Recently, I asked the kids what they wanted to do on a balmy afternoon. Little did I know how frustrating our day would be. By the end of the day, I was locked in my bedroom transcribing Bible verses for frustration into my journal. Bible Verses for Frustration Perhaps you're here because you've been facing
- [The Importance of Quiet Time With God (and 3 Tips)](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/10/11/3-ways-to-have-life-changing-time-with-god/) - Last week, I spilled a handful of birdseed on the deck, and I’ve been watching cardinals and house sparrows clean it up for days. The scene is a daily reminder of one of Jesus’ parables, and I’ve been pondering it as I consider the importance of quiet time with God. Here are Jesus' words: “A
- [10 Bible Verses for Peace and Calm](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/05/27/peace-in-life/) - Does the idea of greater peace sound inviting to you? Today, we'll explore 10 Bible verses for peace and calm. We'll also unpack five practical ways to add more peace to our lives. Bible Verses for Peace and Calm in Any Storm Let's start by looking at God's Word. Then, we'll explore ways to step
- [Characteristics of a Cheerful Giver: 4 Ways to Shift Your Attitude](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/10/23/characteristics-of-a-cheerful-giver/) - Welcome to another sneak peek into our mother-daughter devotional book, Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls. Today's devotion explores shifting from grumpiness to joy as we aim to be cheerful givers. We'll also talk about the characteristics of a cheerful giver. This is written for teen girls, but I
- [5 Practical Ways to Sit at Jesus’ Feet](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/09/01/three-practical-ways-to-sit-at-jesus-feet/) - Shadows of maple leaves move like water on the lawn. Lost in their dance, I step out of my cares for just a moment, and my heart feels light for the first time in weeks. More than anything, I’m desperate for space to step back, breathe, and sit at Jesus’ feet. I wish I were
- [How to Be Still and Listen to God: 7 Practical Tips](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/10/25/what-does-it-mean-to-be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god/) - Daylight finds us with an unseasonable chill, and we close the windows and wrap ourselves in fleece blankets. Pulling out my Bible, I flip to a familiar Psalm. It reads, “Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). I've been learning how to be still and listen to God for decades and have
- [10 Empowering Bible Verses About Identity in Christ](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/07/19/the-only-real-identity/) - You are defined solely by Christ's love for you.
- [10 Bible Verses About Eating for Nourishment and Not Escapism](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/02/21/4-ways-to-begin-healing-your-relationship-with-food/) - It’s a blustery winter evening, and I peruse the kitchen with an insatiable appetite. I want to stop comfort eating and find my comfort in God, but when I'm honest about it, sugar is more palpable at the end of a long day. In a quiet moment of victory, I take a deep breath, turn
- [How to Overcome Storms of Life: 10 Insights](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/16/the-storms-of-life/) - Not long ago, we awakened to a world encased in a silver sheen of ice. Crystal droplets, frozen in time, hung from the railing of the deck like daggers waiting to fall. The wind howled, and frozen shards flew from the jostled branches of the poplar tree. The scene prompted me to think about how
- [10 Bible Verses About Disappointment: How to Handle Spiritual Frustration](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/12/25/when-god-doesnt-make-sense/) - What do you do when God surprises you? How do you respond when he does not show up as you expect? Join us here for 3 Biblical truths for your detours.
- [God Knows Your Pain and Cares About Your Suffering](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/02/05/god-knows-your-pain/) - Several years ago, our family endured a painful series of events. I felt alone and forgotten by God when a friend gently said, "God knows your pain, and he hasn't left your side." Her words carried me through that dark season. Join me as I stroll down our country road, reflect on my journey, and
- [God’s Timing Is Perfect—Even When He Makes Us Wait](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/07/03/gods-timing-is-perfect-even-when-he-makes-us-wait/) - Do you need the reminder that God’s timing is perfect? Maybe you’ve been waiting for God to bring a dream to pass for years, and you’ve started to doubt whether your dream will ever come to life. Perhaps you’ve been praying for a loved one for decades, but you see no sign of God’s movement
- [7 Comforting Bible Verses for Miscarriage](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/02/15/prayers-for-miscarriages/) - If you are reading these words, you are most likely walking through one of life's darkest valleys. My heart aches as I write these words to you today, precious friend. You might be navigating a miscarriage yourself, or you might be supporting a loved one who is coping with this loss. Today, we'll turn to
- [7 Calming Verses for When Life Feels Overwhelming](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/10/12/when-life-overwhelms-you-do-this/) - We all face overwhelming moments in life. Today, we'll explore 7 calming verses for when life feels overwhelming. I invite you to soak in these truths today as God's peace washes over your soul. Also, be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook to help you find peace
- [8 Bible Verses About Joy and an Invitation to Encounter God](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/28/8-bible-verses-about-joy-and-an-invitation-to-encounter-god/) - A fresh blanket of snow found us in the early hours before dawn today. I walked to the window and got lost in the purity of the wild world, and in the process, a spark was ignited in my soul. It felt like a fresh outpouring of joy—joy I’ve been craving for far too long.
- [Why Does God Test Us? (3 Reasons)](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/20/why-does-god-test-us/) - Do you have a sense that God has been testing you? God does not tempt us, but he does put us through tests to help us grow and build our character. Maybe you've been asking the question, "Why does God test us?" We'll look at three reasons for God's tests today. The following words are
- [10 Prayers of Praise to Lift Your Head](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/11/05/10-prayers-of-praise-to-lift-your-head/) - A white moon washes the forest in waves of pellucid light, a benediction. I went to the woods to ground myself. As the light fades, I realize I've stayed longer than planned. Closing my eyes in the moonlight, I turn to God with prayers of praise in hopes that he might lift my head. When
- [The Secret No One Tells You in Your Lowest Moment](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/09/26/lowest-moment-open-door-god-work/) - Your lowest moment might be the backdrop for God's next miracle in your life.
- [5 Kingdom Advancement Prayers for Our World](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/11/06/5-ways-to-pray-for-gods-kingdom-on-earth/) - Join us for five concrete ways to pray Biblical prayers for God's kingdom to reign on earth; revamp your prayer time; and deepen your relationship with God
- [5 Ways to Encounter God in Unexpected Places](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/12/30/4-unexpected-ways-to-encounter-god-in-hard-times/) - I’ve been thinking about how to encounter God in the ordinary moments of my days for a few years now. Today, we'll discuss 5 ways to encounter God in tough times and unexpected places. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God.
- [How to Be Gentle With Yourself](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/06/08/3-ways-to-be-gentle-to-yourself/) - Do you need to learn how to be gentle with yourself? If so, you are in the right place. Today, we'll have an honest conversation about what it looks like to treat ourselves with kindness and gentleness. I’ve spent most of my life being unreasonably hard on myself. I stand in front of mirrors, roll
- [When Silence and Solitude Don't Come Easily](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/10/21/for-the-woman-who-cannot-quiet-her-mind-in-the-discipline-of-silence-and-solitude/) - A strong west wind rips across the yard, and the last of the lavender aster petals are finally swept away. I sit by the window, searching for silence and solitude, and the churning of this autumn cold front mirrors the chaos in my mind. I am an introvert, and I find silence and solitude refreshing
- [How to Stay Connected to God When Life Is Full](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/09/11/three-steps-for-less-stress-and-more-abundant-living/) - If you would like to live a more deliberate and intentional life, deepen your relationship with God, and take control of your mind, join us here and receive a free devotional gift.
- [Four Ways to Decrease Stress by Slowing Down](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/10/11/four-ways-less-busy/) - Practical steps to slow down and enjoy your life
- [5 Back-to-School Prayers for Students Who Don’t Love School](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/08/14/5-back-to-school-prayers-for-students-who-dont-love-school/) - Last summer, after a rough start to the school year, I changed how I prayed for our kids. If you know a young person who doesn’t always enjoy school, I pray these back-to-school prayers for students who don’t love school will help guide your prayers as well. Be sure to read to the end of
- [7 Kingdom Prayers for Our Nation and the World](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/03/19/7-kingdom-prayers-for-our-nation-and-the-world/) - A few years ago, a friend challenged me to change how I prayed. She shared her journey of learning to pray kingdom prayers in addition to praying for her personal needs. This way of praying has radically shifted my focus. The need for God's people to rise in a global prayer movement has seldom been
- [7 Prayers for Joy and Peace No Matter What You're Facing](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/05/28/7-prayers-for-joy-and-peace-no-matter-what-youre-facing/) - The morning opens wide over rolling grey hills splashed with vermillion. I walk slowly down the country road, thankful that my prayers for joy have been answered. I feel grateful and hope-filled as we look to the summer months ahead. Prayers for Joy and Peace Today, we'll look at seven prayers for joy and peace. Whether
- [How to Stand Firm in the Lord When Life Gets You Down](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/05/15/how-to-stand-firm-in-the-lord-when-life-gets-you-down/) - The old sycamore leans over the creek with a trunk worn white by the weather. Resisting the pull of its own weight, it seems to keep watch over the valley where the water runs clear over silt and stones. As I rest against it on a warm evening, it seems like a metaphor for how
- [7 Characteristics of a Transformed Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/12/20/god-with-us-how-jesus-changes-everything/) - Are you searching for evidence that God is working in your life? Today, we'll look at 7 characteristics of a transformed life. I invite you to join me as God transformed me through a challenging situation. Then, we'll take a closer look at what it means to be transformed by God. Be sure to read
- [10 Bible Verses About God’s Faithfulness in Life’s Storms](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/04/13/5-bible-verses-about-gods-faithfulness-in-lifes-storms/) - The other night, a storm rained itself empty like it was working something out. Sometimes life is like this—you wrestle with God until you’re poured out. During these times, it can be helpful to find an anchor. Today, we'll explore 10 Bible verses about God's faithfulness in the storms of life. I invite you to
- [7 Replenishing Bible Verses for Tired Parents](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/06/05/one-word-for-all-the-stretched-thin-moms-this-summer/) - Encouragement for the parents who are weary, struggling with the transition to summer, or simply need to slow down and take it all in
- [10 Affirmations for Spiritual Growth With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/11/29/not-where-you-want-to-be/) - If you look at others and feel less-than, take heart. Life's more of a marathon than a sprint, and it's ok you're not where you want to be just yet.
- [5 Morning Routines to Help You Start Your Day With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/10/19/5-morning-routines-to-help-you-start-your-day-with-god/) - Autumn rain hangs from the spruce boughs like glass beads. Cleansing the sleepy earth, it feels like God’s invitation to begin again. I’ve been thinking about my rhythms lately—analyzing the morning routines that are working for me in this season as well as the ones that aren’t. The Importance of Morning Routines Last week, I
- [8 Bible Verses for When You Feel Defeated](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/07/07/what-to-do-when-you-want-to-give-up/) - Most of us will feel defeated at times in our lives. In these moments, God's Word offers encouragement. Today, I invite you to join me as we explore eight Bible verses for when you feel defeated. Be sure to read to the end of today's post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you and
- [Giving Control to God: 8 Life-Changing Ways to Let Go](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/12/12/for-the-days-when-youre-tired-of-living-with-a-white-knuckled-grip/) - How release and surrender can yield a more abundant life as you follow God daily and offer your sense of control in exchange for his truth
- [God Will Sustain You: Lean Into His Grace](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/07/14/dear-me-reminding-myself-what-matters/) - Do you need the reminder that God will sustain you and carry you through whatever you are facing today? Let's learn how to lean into his grace and trust that he is working in our lives. God Will Sustain You Not long ago, I wrote myself a letter. I desperately needed the reminder that God's
- [8 Bible Verses About Staying Positive in Hard Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/03/10/for-the-worn-down-and-weary-woman/) - The cumulous clouds are stacked in a thick layer on the western horizon. I gaze at them from the room where I'm supposed to be writing inspiring words about life and God, but I’m too worn down to find a single thoughtful thing to say. Instead of writing, I open my Bible in search of
- [8 Bible Verses About Self-Worth: See Yourself as God Sees You](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/05/03/how-to-embrace-yourself-just-the-way-you-are/) - Do you ever compare yourself to others and feel like you don't measure up? Maybe you want to learn how to embrace yourself the way you are, but you don't know where to begin. Today, we'll explore eight powerful Bible verses about self-worth. 8 Bible Verses About Self-Worth Our self-worth is not found in others
- [8 Bible Verses About Not Being Afraid: Finding Courage in Christ](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/07/30/overcoming-fear-finding-courage-and-peace-in-god/) - We all deal with fear. In these moments, we can defeat fear by standing on God's Word. Today, we'll explore eight Bible verses about not being afraid. First, I invite you to join me in the wilderness as fear threatened to paralyze me. We'll talk about overcoming our fears in practical ways. Then, we'll dig
- [17 Free Devotional Books to Help You Grow With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/05/22/12-free-devotional-books-to-help-you-grow-with-god/) - Are you ready to develop a deeper, life-giving relationship with God? My vision is to provide tools to help you encounter him. For this reason, I have compiled a list of free devotional books to help you draw close to God's heart. The first four books on this list are free as eBooks with the
- [Christmas Gifts for Christian Moms: 5 Life-Changing Books](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/20/7-gifts-for-christian-moms-this-christmas/) - More than anything, Christian moms want to raise children who love and follow Jesus. For this reason, the most heartfelt Christmas gifts for Christian moms are resources to help them fulfill this vision. Below, you'll find five books. The first three books are unlike any other books on the market. These are books for Christian
- [An Advent Devotional for Less Stress and Deeper Peace](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/11/13/an-advent-devotional-for-less-stress-and-deeper-peace/) - After years of writing, I finally decided to release an online Advent devotional this year! I pray these readings help you slow down, cultivate wonder, and connect with the Lord. I'm releasing it a few weeks before Advent begins so that you can have it on hand and start reading in December. Here's a glimpse
- [An Online Advent Devotional for Less Stress This December](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/22/an-online-advent-devotional-for-less-stress-this-december/) - Last year, I released an online Advent devotional to help others slow down, cultivate wonder, and connect with the Lord. After receiving wonderful feedback, I made a few updates and am excited to release a second edition this year! Here's a glimpse into this new online devotional. I pray it blesses you deeply. Still My
- [5 Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/12/13/5-family-traditions-restore-wonder-christmas/) - 5 Family-friendly Christmas traditions to restore wonder this year
- [6 Meaningful Christmas Traditions That Put Others First](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/12/20/6-christmas-traditions-will-change-world/) - Six ways to make a positive impact on the world this Christmas.
- [4 Ways to Have a Christ-Centered Christmas](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/12/04/a-must-read-for-the-woman-facing-christmas-stress/) - December has arrived, and I'm not sure I'm ready. I’ve been staring down my to-do list and feeling anxious. I want our family to have a Christ-centered Christmas, but my to-do list is stealing my focus. Sadly, the demands of this season feel more like an invitation to stress than an invitation to worship. Advent
- [Keeping Christ in Christmas: 8 Practical Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/12/11/christ-at-christmas/) - If you feel rushed, stressed, or your life lacks the fullness you crave this Christmas, join us here for three ways to have a more abundant Christmas
- [Keep Christ in Christmas: 9 Ways to Keep Jesus Central](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/12/06/light-of-the-world/) - “Who wants to go on an adventure?” I ask the kids as we drive through farm country on a frigid Saturday afternoon. As the darkness of impending winter presses tighter, we could all use the reminder that the Light of the world has come. We could use the reminder to keep Christ in Christmas when
- [When Christmas Is Hard: 5 Insights to Give You Hope](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/12/13/suffering-at-christmas-5-insights-to-give-you-hope/) - Snow falls heavily like flour through a sifter, and I’m alone with only my thoughts and the hushed whisper of flakes gathering on frozen earth. As I sit beneath the hemlocks, I’m reminded of a season years ago when our family was suffering at Christmas. It can be challenging to know where to turn when
- [4 Ways to Stay Focused on Jesus at Christmas](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/12/11/4-ways-to-stay-focused-on-jesus-at-christmas/) - For the first year in decades, I counted winter as a gift this year: not a grueling season to survive, but a wonderous season to embrace. As I aim to give thanks for the colder weather and darker days, I'm also reminding myself to stay focused on Jesus at Christmas this year. I tend to
- [4 Prayers for Joy and Peace This Christmas and Beyond](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/12/25/prayers-for-joy-and-peace/) - A white veil rises and falls outside the window like a clean linen bedsheet flogging in the wind. I watch the scene as our children haul their Christmas presents to their bedrooms. My husband sits at the dining room table assembling the little one's train set. God has answered my prayers for joy and peace
- [Christian Books for Mothers and Daughters to Read Together](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/04/26/a-unique-mothers-day-gift-for-moms-with-daughters/) - Several years ago, our then-11-year-old daughter, Bekah, saw a mother-daughter devotional written by an older mother-daughter pair sitting on our kitchen table. I had no way of knowing that the question she asked next would lead us to write two Christian books for mothers and daughters to read together. "We should write a mother-daughter devotional!"
- [15 Tips for Camping With Kids: How to Make Amazing Memories!](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/07/10/15-tips-for-camping-with-kids-how-to-make-amazing-memories/) - Last summer, our family embarked on an 11-day camping road trip. As we prepare for this summer's similar road trip, I've been reflecting on last year's journey. Today, I'm sharing tips for camping with kids as well as a few reflections from last summer's adventure. (If you're eager to get to the camping tips, scroll
- [What the Fruit of the Spirit Bible Verses Mean for Moms](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/08/30/what-the-fruit-of-the-spirit-bible-verses-mean-for-moms/) - One of my favorite parts of writing and blogging is connecting with other writers. I'm excited to introduce my friend Stacey Shannon to you today. Stacey has a heart for encouraging women of all ages in their faith. Today's post on the fruit of the Spirit blessed and challenged me, and I'm confident it will
- [Rising Above Adversity (With Bekah Pardoe)](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/06/rising-above-adversity/) - Yesterday, Bekah and I shared an exciting announcement. Heart to Heart, our new mother-daughter devotional book for teen girls is on sale here! Today, we're sharing another devotion from the book. This one is from Bekah. Join her as she shares a few insights on rising above adversity. You've Got This! (Rising Above Adversity) Yet
- [How to Cultivate Contentment When You’re Tempted to Grumble](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/02/26/how-to-cultivate-contentment-when-youre-tempted-to-grumble/) - A grey sky hovered over the mountains as we climbed out of the valley. Cloaked in wildflowers and the viridescent glow of summer growth, the hillsides held us in welcoming arms. The scene felt like a gentle invitation to cultivate contentment and peace. As we traveled up the mountainside, the tender growth of flora was
- [5 Gifts Found in the Valley of Weeping](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/04/02/valley-of-weeping/) - Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with blessings. Psalm 84:6 AMP The Gifts We Find in the Valley of Weeping A chorus of birdsong ascends out the window, almost as if encouraging us to hope again—reminding us that seasons change, and
- [Persevere in Prayer: A Simple Tip for a More Consistent Prayer Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/06/11/persevere-in-prayer-a-simple-tip-for-a-more-consistent-prayer-life/) - I was 22 years old, full of dreamy ideals, and fresh out of college when I became the Life Skills Support Special Education teacher in a small-town public high school. I had visions for planning engaging lesson plans and teaching my students to thrive in the world. A month into my new career, I vividly
- [How to Make Thankfulness Your Sacrifice to God](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/06/18/how-to-make-thankfulness-your-sacrifice-to-god/) - “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God . . .” Psalm 50:14, NLT A million snowflakes fall effortlessly to the frozen earth, piling upon themselves in brilliance while I stand silently watching. My heart is heavy as I stand in this winter forest today—grieving so much change and loss over the past months. As the snow
- [15 Back to School Bible Verses for the New Year](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/10/15-back-to-school-bible-verses-for-the-new-year/) - Daylight met us softly this morning, tenderly folding its arms around us, maternally. It seemed fitting as the kids waved goodbye and headed to school. When they left, I opened my Bible in search of some anchoring back to school Bible verses to help our children navigate the challenges this time of year brings. 15
- [Devotions for Kids: Books for the Kids You Care About](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/22/devotions-for-kids-two-books-for-the-kids-you-care-about/) - Are you looking for Christian devotions for kids? Our sons, Caleb and Aiden, are excited to join me in announcing the release of our new book, God's Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength. Additionally, our mother-daughter devotional book, Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and
- [8 Bible Verses About Being Intentional](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/07/12/simple-strategy-greater-joy/) - Greater joy is found when we take our lives off auto-pilot
- [How to Be a More Patient Mom When Parenting Is Hard](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/03/17/how-to-be-more-patient-when-parenthood-is-hard/) - It’s 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday, and I need a talking break. I’ve been answering questions almost incessantly for the past 14 hours. I can’t help but wonder how the question-asker hasn’t worn down yet, but he’s going strong. I'm learning how to be a more patient mom through the refining fire of parenthood, and
- [Family Devotions: 3 Simple Tips for Success](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/08/23/3-concrete-ways-to-help-your-children-grow-spiritually/) - I vividly remember meeting an older friend for lunch shortly before becoming a parent. I asked her everything from how to do family devotions with toddlers to how to stay connected with teens. After rambling through my questions, my friend looked into my eyes and said, "You won't be the perfect parent. But if you
- [Overcome Anxiety With God: 6 Steps to Help You](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/02/06/overcome-anxiety-with-god/) - If you struggle with stress and anxiety, one simple question can lead you to victory and peace. Join us here to read more.
- [God’s Greatest Gifts in Unexpected Places: Reframing Setbacks](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/08/13/gods-greatest-gifts-in-unexpected-places-reframing-setbacks/) - The forest smelled like damp ferns and a hint of smoke from the smoldering campfire. As I sat alone on the porch of the tiny cabin, I embraced the serenity of one of God’s greatest gifts: the treasures found in his created world. The song of a nearby hermit thrush ushered me into an ethereal
- [6 Outdoor Hospitality Ideas for Autumn](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/10/16/6-outdoor-hospitality-ideas-for-autumn-how-to-connect-in-these-pandemic-times/) - There’s a single-file row of foxtail grass bending over the roadside like a line of school children dropping pennies off a bridge. Oddly enough, seeing them posed over the gravel gets me thinking about gathering with others and embracing autumn’s invitation for offering outdoor hospitality. It gets me thinking about standing with others to admire
- [5 Creative Ways to Offer Hospitality This Summer](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/06/09/5-creative-ways-to-offer-hospitality/) - Summer is a wonderful time for extending hospitality. Join us here for five surprising and creative ways to extend hospitality beneath open skies this summer.
- [God’s Timing for Your Healing: Trusting the Process and Power of Restoration](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/07/16/gods-timing-for-your-healing-trusting-the-process-and-power-of-restoration/) - The hills tell a story as their ruffled crests flog in the summer wind. I remember when these hills were blanketed with sparse glimpses of crusty snow, interrupted by tufts of beige grass and patches of mud. Today, the lush summer meadow seems to speak of the power of restoration. I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:11.
- [What Is My Calling From God?](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/07/31/what-is-my-calling-from-god/) - Twenty-five years ago, I vividly remember sitting on a hillside and wrestling with the question, "What is my calling from God?" I wanted to know what I was supposed to do with the rest of my life, and I hoped that if I sat quietly for long enough, God would tell me. God didn't speak
- [The Journey to Inner Healing: Trusting God With Your Wounds](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/07/09/the-journey-to-inner-healing-trusting-god-with-your-wounds/) - Evening casts a hushed shadow over the valley, and I pause to listen to the chimelike song of a red-eyed vireo. Our family has slipped away for a weekend in the woods, and everything about this weekend feels like an invitation to a deeper level of inner healing. The past few months have led me on
- [Rolling Our Burdens Onto God: Finding Peace in Surrender](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/07/23/rolling-our-burdens-onto-god-finding-peace-in-surrender/) - Robins chatter on the lawn, delighted after an early morning deluge chased the earthworms from their sleepy hideaways beneath the earth. As I watch them from my chair beside the window, I think of George Müller, who was known for the idea of rolling our burdens onto God.* Perhaps what I need most today is
- [Why Has God Abandoned Me?](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/13/why-has-god-abandoned-me/) - Have you ever asked the question, "Why has God abandoned me?" When life is difficult, it often feels as though God has forgotten and forsaken us. Today, I invite you to join me as I share an excerpt from our new book, Heart to Heart, and we'll talk about what to do when we feel
- [8 Powerful Prayers for Deliverance and Healing](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/10/09/walking-through-the-fire-with-god/) - I grew up believing that demons weren’t real—that they were figments of imagination, akin to monsters and the Boogie Man. The first time I read through the entire Bible, I realized I’d been deceived. Scripture paints a clear picture of a spiritual realm that is just as real as the temporal world we can see.
- [8 Bible Verses for Overcoming Anxiety With God's Help](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/05/12/overcome-anxiety-with-gods-help/) - I've dealt with anxiety for as long as I can remember. Throughout my journey, I've learned that God wants to help me exchange anxiety for peace. Today, we'll look at seven Bible verses for overcoming anxiety. Then, I'll share a story of applying these Scriptures to an everyday moment. 8 Bible Verses for Overcoming Anxiety
- [Transform Your Life With These 5 Prayers for the New Year](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/12/27/transform-your-life-with-these-5-prayers-for-the-new-year/) - The wind howls all day—rattling the windowpanes and nearly bending the old poplar to its breaking point. We watch through ice-glazed glass while the Christmas lights blaze white on the mantle. I have no idea that stepping into the white world is about to help me begin praying focused prayers for the New Year. “You’re
- [11 Ways to Get Closer to God This Year](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/01/08/ways-to-get-closer-to-god/) - Not long ago, as I hustled from one task to the next, I slipped on the wet floor and fell with a thud. I had no way of knowing that the moment was about to be a lesson on how to get closer to God. As I grabbed my knee and writhed in pain, I
- [Overcoming Overwhelming Emotions With God’s Help](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/02/07/overcoming-overwhelming-emotions-with-gods-help/) - Hello! Last week, I announced the release of my new book, Lean Into Grace: Let God's Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free. Today, I’m sharing another excerpt to give you a glimpse inside the book. This reading comes from a chapter about learning to overcome overwhelming emotions with God’s help.
- [10 Life-Giving Bible Verses About Light and Truth](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/12/04/10-life-giving-bible-verses-about-light-and-truth/) - As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of the Light of the World, I've been soaking in Bible verses about light and truth. I invite you to join me as I watch the morning dawn, and we'll savor these Truths together. 10 Life-Giving Bible Verses About Light and Truth This morning the sky
- [How to Lament With God: Finding Healing Through Honest Prayer](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/08/06/how-to-lament-with-god/) - Years ago, a friend encouraged me to lament with God after a difficult loss in my life. “It’s important to let all these feelings out because they can lead to bitterness toward God if you hold them in. Tell him what you’re feeling. He can take it,” she said. Taking her advice, I went to
- [Finding God When Prayers Go Unanswered](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/02/14/god-doesnt-seem-hear-prayers/) - What do we do when our prayers seem to fall upon deaf ears?
- [10 Refreshing Bible Verses to Replenish Your Heart and Mind](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/08/27/10-refreshing-bible-verses-to-replenish-your-heart-and-mind/) - After a day of rain, we awaken to glimpses of blue above the canopy. The forest is alive today. Songbirds I cannot name greet the dawn with cheerful chatter, and I open my Bible in search of refreshing Bible verses to match the brightness of this morning. We are at the cabin again this weekend.
- [Finding God in Suffering: 5 Affirmations to Carry You](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/09/12/how-to-be-brave-when-god-calls-you-into-new-places/) - Encouragement on stepping bravely into the unchartered waters, new places, new jobs, and risks that come with following God.
- [How to Give God Control: 5 Scriptures on Surrendering to God](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/06/12/5-scriptures-on-surrendering-to-god/) - As morning broke, I recently left my usual chair and walked outside to the deck. The world was teeming with energy and life. Songbirds surrounded me as I opened my Bible in search of Scriptures on surrendering to God and slowing my pace. I needed this encouragement because summer break has come. Our oldest children
- [Submitting Your Emotions to God: 3 Steps to Help You](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/03/15/be-kind-to-yourself-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters/) - I spent most of my life believing that my emotions needed to be controlled and surpressed. Not recognizing the biblical truth that my emotions were God-given, I often wrestled with the intensity of my feelings. If you can relate, you're in the right place. Today, I'll invite you to begin the process of submitting your
- [10 Biblical Affirmations for Hard Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/03/01/4-ways-to-stop-wishing-your-life-away/) - Are you facing a difficult situation right now? I invite you to join me as we explore 10 biblical affirmations for hard times and difficult circumstances. Speak these words when life is tough and you feel discouraged. 10 Biblical Affirmations for Hard Times This week, the robins returned to our wilted lawn. I envisioned the
- [How to Choose a New Thanksgiving Tradition for Your Family](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/11/08/7-family-friendly-thanksgiving-traditions/) - Family-friendly Thanksgiving traditions, crafts, games, and gratitude activities for the whole family
- [10 Bible Verses About Trusting God's Plan](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/03/02/10-empowering-scriptures-on-overcoming-fear/) - Are you facing any fears when you look to the future? Today, we'll dig into God's Word and unpack 10 powerful Bible verses about trusting God's plan. First, let me share the story of a great fear that threatened to paralyze me. 10 Empowering Bible Verses About Trusting God's Plan Our first child was born
- [Scripture About God's Presence: 7 Verses With Applications](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/08/25/how-to-stop-being-in-a-hurry-and-get-your-peace-back/) - The morning glories are climbing the neighbors’ porch beams when I stop along the road and come to a realization: I have not been attentive to God's presence lately. I've been hustling and striving and failing to stay in step with him. After returning home, I pull out my Bible in search of Scripture about
- [How to Have More Joy in the Lord—Even When Life is Tough](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/03/13/how-to-have-more-joy-in-the-lord-even-when-life-is-tough/) - We are at the creek again today—hoping to imbibe the scarce rays of golden sunlight peering at us from behind the wooded knolls. I long to live with deep roots of joy in the Lord, but the winter months are often challenging. We're on the cusp of springtime now. Nevertheless, the winter months have worn
- [Feeling God's Presence: How to Connect With Him](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/04/19/fresh-encounter-with-god/) - God's love is a powerful reality that can change any life.
- [How to Show Gratitude Toward God When Life Is Tough: 3 Practical Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/08/18/how-to-be-more-thankful-to-god-when-lifes-not-easy/) - After the coffee brews, the final drops patter into the pot like rain filling a bucket or thoughts collecting in the secret place. Our days have been full here lately, and I'm desperate for some space to let my soul breathe. I utter a quiet prayer for insight on how to show gratitude to God
- [12 Bible Verses About God's Care for Us](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/07/20/is-god-angry-with-me/) - Smoky wisps of fog wrap their fingers through the goldenrod as I sit by the window in prayer. I’ve been distracted lately, and my thoughts have been far from God. A familiar question runs through my mind: Is God mad at me for neglecting my relationship with him? Pulling out my Bible, I begin my
- [I Don't Fit in: Insights to Change Your Perspective](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/06/02/not-fitting-in/) - A few years ago, I stepped about a million miles out of my comfort zone and attended a conference for women who feel called to write and speak. The weekend was filled with informational seminars, discussion groups, and motivational speakers. I was anxious about the weekend for plenty of reasons, and one of my deepest
- [Why Is Motherhood So Hard? (Encouragement for Weary Moms)](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/11/04/how-to-let-the-struggles-of-motherhood-soften-you/) - The dim glow of daylight rises over the tree line, and I stare at the light as it ascends mandarin over the shadows. "Why is motherhood so hard?" I whisper. The thousands of quiet struggles of motherhood have worn me thin lately. This morning, I make up my mind not to complain. I will give
- [Who I Am in Christ: Discovering the Part of You That Can Never Change](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/02/14/who-i-am-in-christ/) - For the past two weeks, I’ve been offering glimpses into my new book, Lean Into Grace. Today will be our last excerpt from the book. This reading shares the story of one of the most challenging stretches of my life and describes the way God used difficult circumstances to teach me who I am in
- [8 Free Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/27/10-free-outdoor-activitiesscavenger-hunts-and-printables-for-when-the-walls-close-in/) - Are you looking for family-friendly outdoor activities? Our family has made getting our kids outdoors a high priority, and the results are powerful. I'm revisiting this post today now that our oldest is a teenager, and I'm grateful that she still loves spending time outdoors. 8 Free Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities If you're looking for free
- [8 Prayers for Young Children: Make an Eternal Impact](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/09/20/25-specific-ways-to-encourage-your-child/) - Practical ways to encourage your kids, regardless of age.
- [Recovering From Church Hurt: 6 Steps Toward Healing](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/02/28/what-you-do-not-know-can-hurt/) - Why what we don't see really can hurt us, drag us down, and lead us astray. We need a community to provide support and accountability.
- [How to Get Out of a Slump](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/05/31/the-high-cost-of-disobedience/) - Disobedience has a cost.
- [Cast All Your Burdens on God: 4 Practical Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/01/25/4-practical-ways-to-cast-your-worries-on-god/) - Do you want to learn to cast all your burdens on the Lord? I invite you to join me in the woods, and we'll talk about practical ways to cast our cares on Jesus. Cast All Your Burdens on God: 4 Insights The forest is silent this morning. Shrouded in a fresh cloak of frozen
- [10 Bible Verses for When You Feel Lost in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/09/07/i-dont-know-who-i-am-anymore-the-truest-thing-about-you/) - Twelve years ago, I stepped into a season of major transition. I remember looking out the window one balmy summer morning and feeling lost in life. I felt like my identity was being slowly dismantled, and I didn't know who I was anymore. If you can relate, we're going to look at 10 Bible verses
- [How to Get Close to God Again: 4 Practical Steps](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/11/03/how-to-find-god-in-a-barren-season/) - I walked down the road for the sheer joy of stepping into the ivory firmament and breathing deeply today. Maybe I needed a fresh lesson on how to get close to God again. I'd been feeling distant and disconnected from him, and I hoped that time outside might help me reconnect with him. I was
- [Leave It to God: 4 Ways to Cast Your Cares on Him](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/07/24/leave-it-to-god/) - The wheat field bends low in waves of ragged green as an evening storm blows in. Like velvet brushed by an unseen hand, the monochrome swath is broken. "Leave it to God," I whisper as I stroll down our country road. Meanwhile, the same ethereal hand seems to sweep my cares away with the wind.
- [How to Be a Woman of Influence and Inspiration](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/02/01/how-to-be-a-woman-of-influence-lessons-from-my-grandma/) - I remember the way the sun beams slanted through the maples the afternoon I told my mom I was running away from home. I’m sure I was no older than eight or nine, and Mom calmly looked at me and asked just where I planned to go. “To Grandma’s house!” I told her. I imagined
- [Devotional Time Tips to Stir Your Passion for God](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/29/how-to-do-devotional-time-more-consistently-in-2022/) - The windows were blotted with raindrops the morning I walked to the window and prayed, "God show me how to do devotional time with you in a way that revives me." I sat with my Bible and prayer book, but I felt tired and apathetic. Familiar practices had grown monotonous, and it was time to breathe
- [How Can I Have a Closer Relationship With God?](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/06/28/gods-desire-communion/) - God waits for his people to turn to him and grow in relationship. It is up to us to respond to the invitation.
- [Lean Into Grace and Experience God's Healing and Freedom](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/01/02/join-the-launch-team-for-my-new-book-lean-into-grace/) - What do you do when your life lacks the healing, freedom, and joy you long for—when you feel stuck and don’t know where to turn? In these moments, God invites us to lean into grace as he works in our lives to accomplish what we cannot do in our human strength. I have exciting news
- [How to Be Transformed by Grace—and Why Willpower Doesn’t Work](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/01/03/how-to-be-transformed-by-grace-and-why-willpower-doesnt-work/) - I sit beneath the snowy hemlocks and search the forest for any hint of movement. God breathes in shades of grey today—smoky clouds rolling overhead while translucent ice encompasses the frozen world. I’ve come to the woods because I’m feeling stuck, and I need to connect with the Creator so that I might be transformed
- [When God Disappoints You, Find Your Hope Here...](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/02/10/disappointments-in-life/) - Here in the glow of hope rising upon a new season, we look to the future and give our dreams permission to set sail. But let's be honest, new beginnings are also invitations to gaze behind us. Every new season is an opportunity to pause and look square in the face of a year’s worth
- [How to Step Out in Faith When You Feel Uncertain](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/01/03/step-out-in-faith/) - Stepping out in faith involves risk. Don't be afraid to step into the raging water if that's what God asks of you.
- [Comparing Yourself to Others (By Bekah Pardoe)](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/10/16/comparing-yourself-to-others-by-bekah-pardoe/) - Today, I'm thrilled to share a few thoughts from our teenage daughter, Bekah. This post on comparing ourselves to others comes directly from our book, Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls. Bekah's words speak to most of the women I know and are a powerful reminder for us all.
- [Lead Me to the Rock That Is Higher Than I](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/08/07/lead-me-to-the-rock-that-is-higher-than-i/) - “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2, ESV). Lead Me to the Rock That is Higher Than I We sit in the yard as the songbirds swoop beneath the
- [Encouragement for Tired Moms: 5 Ways to Add Joy to Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/12/08/encouragement-for-tired-moms/) - What if our ordinary lives are the canvas for something beautiful?
- [God Is Always Listening and Hears Our Cries](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/28/god-hears-our-cries-dont-lose-heart-in-the-waiting/) - Today’s devotional post is adapted from my new 31-day devotional Mornings With Jesus. If you enjoy this post, find your copy of Mornings With Jesus at the bottom of the page. I pray this new online devotional book blesses you richly! And now, a gentle reminder that God is always listening. God Is Always Listening
- [How to Be Thankful to God Even When Life Is Hard](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/12/09/3-reasons-to-create-space-to-see-the-big-picture-in-your-life/) - It’s a quiet Wednesday evening, and I return home with a truckload of groceries to find an empty house. I have no idea that the evening is about to be a lesson on how to be thankful to God even when life is challenging. After stowing the food in the cupboards, I slip to the
- [The Power of Trusting God: 7 Ways to Grow in Trust](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/04/06/what-to-do-when-your-heart-is-broken/) - Layers of altostratus rest above the western tree line like wet towels hastily folded. Splinters of sapphire peer through their sparse creases and remind me of promises for better days to come. Closing my eyes, I remind myself of the power of trusting God in hard times. The darkness will pass. Light is coming for
- [How to Feel God's Presence in Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/04/08/how-to-breathe-deeply-love-deeply-and-laugh-deeply-in-such-a-time-as-this/) - Not long ago, I texted a friend and told her about long days in a house filled with noisy children. "I want to know how to feel God's presence when life mostly feels overwhelming," I vented. Her response came seasoned with wisdom. First, she reminded me that regardless of whether I feel God's presence or
- [How to Love Like Jesus When It Doesn’t Come Easily](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/08/05/when-loving-well-does-not-come-easily/) - A warm wind rustles the maples and sounds like clear water flowing over granite. I’m taken back to a different season. Twenty years ago, God began the deep heart work of teaching me how to love like Jesus, especially when it doesn’t come easily. Working at a summer camp will teach that kind of lesson.
- [What Does God Say About Making Decisions?](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/08/how-to-make-important-decisions/) - Tips for making the best decisions
- [How to Put People First and Stop Chasing Performance](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/10/10/how-to-stop-pursuing-performance-and-pursue-hearts/) - It's easy to slip off track and fix our eyes on performance instead of the high calling of pursuing hearts. Encouraging words for your journey today.
- [Four Practical Ways to Cultivate a Consistent Prayer Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/05/26/a-praying-life/) - The roadsides are blanketed with wildflowers, and we often spend evenings playing kickball in the backyard now. It's not officially summer yet, but it feels like summer has already settled upon us. As our rhythms change, I long to cultivate a more consistent prayer life, especially in this busy season. As I reflect on this
- [5 Steps to Take When You’re Feeling Uninspired](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/04/07/5-steps-to-take-when-youre-feeling-unmotivated/) - I’d been feeling uninspired for a few weeks when my life suddenly came to a screeching halt. I was unmotivated to write, weary from parenting, and I felt stuck. Most of us know all about feeling stuck. We get stuck in bad habits, complacency, escapist behaviors, and deep, muddy ruts along the paths of our
- [7 Ways to Connect With God and Refresh Your Spirit](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/10/07/how-to-let-go-of-good-and-make-room-for-better/) - Do you want a deeper or stronger relationship with God? You are in the right place. Today, we'll explore 7 ways to connect with God in fresh ways. I invite you to join me as I gaze at the autumn tree line, and we'll talk about how to draw near to God in refreshing ways.
- [How to Hear God's Voice: 4 Keys](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/09/29/a-new-way-to-practice-listening-prayer/) - Do you want to learn to hear God's voice and stay in step with him as you make decisions? God wants to reveal himself to us and teach us how to discern his quiet whispers. How to Hear God's Voice Today, we'll begin by discussing the most common ways God speaks to us. Then, we'll
- [On Hearing God's Voice: One Thing God Will Never Say to You](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/05/05/on-hearing-gods-voice-one-thing-god-will-never-say-to-you/) - There are hundreds of black flies rising from still water when I hear it. It’s a quiet whisper coming from someplace I can’t quite identify: “You’re not good enough for this.” For a split second, I wonder if I'm hearing God's voice. I’ve heard this voice dozens of times: When I had that big dream
- [How to Savor Life and Find Deeper Joy in the Ordinary](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/11/25/how-to-savor-life-and-relish-what-you-have-while-you-have-it/) - I take my bike to the open road at the end of a too-long day just to feel the air brush up against my skin. I want the breeze to carry my cares across the hay fields, where they might get lost and tangled in the dormant silage stubble. I’m not pondering how to savor
- [How to Put Your Hope in Jesus When Life Is Hard](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/07/06/how-to-put-your-hope-in-jesus-when-youre-in-the-valley/) - The wind that ripped and tore all day finally calms, and I slip into the valley to walk in the silence. I'm here because I need to remind myself to put my hope in Jesus instead of putting my hope in climbing out of the valley of discomfort. Have you ever faced a valley so
- [Trials of Faith: 3 Promises for Tough Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/02/22/remember-this-when-you-pass-through-the-waters-of-adversity/) - We all face trials of faith. When these times come, we can respond in a variety of ways. Some people blame God for trials, take offense, and turn away from him. Others try to fix the broken circumstances as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, some of us numb ourselves or escape into work. Today, we'll talk
- [Please Help Me, God!  I Need You!](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/02/17/help-me-god-im-drowning-over-here/) - Dawn breaks softly, and I stare down another day with its never-ending tasks. "Please help me, God! I'm drowning over here," I whisper as I prepare to descend the stairs and begin the day. We're living in pandemic times, which means I'll be juggling again today. I'll teach my kids, cook dinner, keep the little
- [Satisfaction in Jesus: A Question to Ask Yourself](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/07/01/a-powerful-question-to-help-you-find-satisfaction-in-jesus/) - I'm not thinking about how to find satisfaction in Jesus as the wind rustles the maple leaves. However, as I open my Bible for inspiration on the warm afternoon, I discover stumble a surprising scene. A blind man named Bartimaeus is crying out to Jesus from the roadside. Stopping, Jesus looks at blind Bartimaeus and
- [3 Ways to Overcome the Fear of Failure With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/10/06/3-ways-to-overcome-the-fear-of-failure-with-god/) - A sycamore leaf falls into my hand—brittle and tawny, the color nutmeg. The creek unfolds in shadowy shades of black, and I breathe deeply as my cares fall away. I've been feeling like a failure in a few important areas of my life lately. The forest offers space to examine how I might overcome the
- [4 Practical Ways to Overcome Fear With Faith](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/01/10/5-ways-to-overcome-fear-with-faith/) - Welcome to our second post in the Set Free series. Today, we'll talk about how to overcome fear with faith. This series offers a taste of what you'll find in my paperback book, Lean Into Grace. And now, let's talk about rising above our greatest fears. How to Overcome Fear With Faith Through the frosted windowpane,
- [Joy in Jesus: How to Cultivate It in Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/01/how-to-embrace-your-munande-life/) - Find greater joy through embracing your mundane life. Learn to find joy in ordinary moments. Embrace parenting.
- [Finding Your Calling From God: A Surprising Truth You Need to Know](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/08/19/the-surprising-truth-about-your-calling-in-life/) - Does the idea of finding your calling from God feel too subjective or difficult? I spent years trying to perfectly discern God's calling for my life. Meanwhile, I missed the most obvious part of his calling. I invite you to join me as I coax our youngest child to sleep, and we'll talk about finding
- [How to Change the World Through Kindness](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/08/16/how-to-be-a-difference-maker/) - Impacting the world for Christ is not as difficult as we sometimes make it out to be.
- [Feeling Discouraged?  This Is for You . . .](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/07/14/why-dying-to-self-the-secret-to-the-fullest-kind-of-life/) - A vase of salmon-colored zinnias rests on the dining room table. I stare at it through tear-filled eyes, feeling discouraged by the grind of life. On one level, admitting to the discouragement feels like ingratitude. I have a life many women envy. I'm able to work part-time from home and spend most of my days
- [Angry Cleaning: 3 Ways to Move Toward Peace and Joy](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/10/05/your-labor-is-not-in-vain-even-when-it-feels-like-it/) - I recently went for a walk with a friend who confessed to Angry Cleaning. I didn't have to ask her for an explanation because I've Angry Cleaned more times than I can count. Unlike "Rage Cleaning," in which we intentionally pour our frustration into the cleaning process, using our anger for good, Angry Cleaning is
- [5 Ways to Celebrate Autumn Without the Spookiness](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/10/06/5-ways-celebrate-fall-without-ghosts-goblins/) - Five ways to celebrate fall without ghosts and goblins
- [Feeling Broken Inside?  This Is for You](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/04/26/the-mystery-of-life-from-death/) - Life often rises from brokenness. If you are feeling broken today, be encouraged.
- [How to Love Like Jesus When You Feel Annoyed](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/15/how-to-love-like-jesus-when-you-feel-annoyed/) - My little boy comes to me with his shoelaces twisted in knots. I'm soaking in my morning reading and enjoying a hot cup of coffee. I feel like I might be the world's worst mom, but I don’t really want to set my coffee aside to untangle dirty shoelaces. A fleeting thought crosses my mind—a
- [What Does God Want Me to Do With My Life?](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/03/31/4-ways-to-find-direction-in-life/) - Have you been asking, "What does God want me to do with my life?" God wants to reveal his will to you. Let's talk about how to find God's will for our lives. What Does God Want Me to Do With My Life? The cherry blossoms will soon be salmon with life and hope. I’ve
- [Transform Your Mind by Overcoming These Toxic Mindsets](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/09/25/3-thought-patterns-that-are-stealing-your-peace-and-joy-how-to-transform-your-mind/) - There are monarchs on the milkweed, and the sun sinks fiery white above the overgrown weed fields behind the house. “They’re not weeds,” five-year-old Caleb contends, “They’re flowers.” I smile at his words. Maybe he knows the hidden secret about how to really transform your mind when the weeds creep in. “I guess it depends
- [How to Change the World From Hidden Places: 5 Bible Verses About Leaving an Impact](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/02/28/5-ways-to-change-the-world-from-your-quiet-little-corner-lessons-from-winter/) - Most of us face moments when the monotony of our daily lives wears on us. We wonder if we're making a difference in the world and doubt God's calling. We can turn to God's Word for hope and encouragement in these times. Today, we'll look at five Bible verses about leaving an impact. Often, our
- [How to Be Joyful in the Lord: 7 Secrets](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/11/27/seven-secrets-for-deeper-joy-in-life/) - If your life is lacking in joy, peace, and contentment, join us here for seven secrets that will cultivate a more joy-filled life.
- [Stepping Out in Faith: How to Take the First Step](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/06/13/starting-poorly-is-better-than-not-starting-at-all/) - When you're struggling to get going, the best thing to do is simply take the first step.
- [What Are the Blessings of God?](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/09/30/gods-presence/) - When difficulty comes, we need to call on God for help; however, there is one thing we all need more than God's help. Read here to encounter this truth.
- [The Importance of Balance in Life: What Does It Mean](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/02/19/a-balanced-life/) - This morning, snowflakes waltzed on the trodden lawn like tufts of cotton grass bobbing on a summer morning. I remembered summer with all its life and possibility, and the season we’d settled into felt more like a sterile waiting room where everyone just stared at the walls and prayed for our names to be called.
- [Living in the Joy of the Lord: 6 Practical Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/09/06/how-to-walk-into-the-next-season/) - lessons from summer
- [Only God Can Satisfy Your Emptiness: 3 Ways to Be Filled](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/22/the-astonishing-goodness-of-god/) - God's tender love holds the power to transform our ordinary moments.
- [Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: 9 Ways to Love Well](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/16/be-a-good-mom/) - Not long ago, after studying the fruit of the Spirit, I decided I was done yelling at my kids. Ten minutes after making the decision, someone dumped a whole box of cereal on the kitchen floor in an attempt to pick out the marshmallows. Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit suddenly felt far from my
- [Discover These Gifts by Slowing Down in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/09/13/power-margin-time/) - Our lives are transformed when we leave room for blessing others
- [How to Know If You Are Walking in the Spirit: 5 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/07/13/a-surprising-way-to-keep-in-step-with-the-spirit/) - Have you ever wondered how to know if you are walking in the Spirit? Maybe you want to be used by God and live for his honor, but you wonder if you are making a difference. Today, we'll talk about how to know you're walking in the Spirit and explore practical ways to stay in
- [Seeking God's Wisdom: Are You Praying or Ruminating?](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/08/10/on-asking-god-for-wisdom-are-you-praying-or-ruminating/) - Do you ever feel afraid of making the wrong decision and messing up your life? Maybe you need to choose between two jobs, two future spouses, or two different houses. In your uncertainty, you’re afraid you’re going to choose incorrectly and derail your life. You've been seeking God's wisdom, but for the most part, heaven
- [What to Do When You Hit a Spiritual Slump](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/08/20/what-to-do-when-you-hit-a-spiritual-slump/) - Tips for fueling your faith and overcoming spiritual apathy and dryness: a free Christian women's devotional to help you connect with God
- [5 Hope-Filled Prayers for Grieving Families ](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/04/12/5-hope-filled-prayers-for-grieving-families/) - A few months ago, a family in our community endured a heart-wrenching loss. Every time I read updates about their painful journey, I felt like my heart was pierced, and tears flooded my eyes. At the culmination of their awful journey, I visited the Facebook page where they had been posting updates. As I read
- [How to Trust God in Hard Times: 4 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/03/06/how-to-gut-it-out-when-the-going-gets-tough/) - Encouragement for your most difficult seasons of suffering and four ways to endure with steadfast strength by leaning on God
- [How to Have Faith in God During Hard Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/02/08/encouragement-for-difficult-seasons/) - How to cling to God when life is difficult. God holds onto us when we lose our grip.
- [When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/06/22/when-i-am-weak-then-i-am-strong/) - “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). The morning after our first child was born I stared at the ticking clock on the white-washed hospital wall and counted the minutes I had
- [Overcoming the Spirit of Failure and Trusting God](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/04/20/how-to-stop-fearing-failure-and-trust-god-instead/) - A placid lake shines silver beneath the sinking sun. As we sit along the water, a friend tells me I should share my writing with the world. I want to take her advice, but overcoming the spirit of failure feels daunting. I’ve been writing all my life, but this time feels different. It feels less
- [7 Powerful Bible Verses About Stress and Hard Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/05/10/four-reasons-to-ponder-what-is-beautiful/) - Appreciating the beauty around us opens our eyes to God's goodness
- [How to "Be Still and Know That I Am God"](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/05/18/how-to-be-still-and-know-that-god-is-with-you/) - The shaded canopy at the trailhead fluttered to the ground, one golden leaf at a time. I was in the woods because I’d grown weary from juggling the many commitments in my life. I was desperate to quiet my soul and relearn how to "be still and know that I am God." You probably know
- [Pursuing God: 15 Ways to Stir Your Longing for Jesus](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/03/08/pursuing-god-15-creative-ideas-that-will-captivate-his-heart/) - Last summer, I decided to write our eleven-year-old daughter Bekah a note for each day she would be away at summer camp. After writing a note for each day of the week and tucking them into her backpack, I thought about how excited sweet Bekah would be to read them. I had no idea that
- [8 Back to School Prayers for Parents](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/08/09/8-prayers-for-the-new-school-year/) - The wiry branches of our poplar tree nod in the breeze, and I brace myself for the coming change. These leaves will soon begin to wither beneath the late-summer heat. At the same time, our family will shift into new rhythms as another school year greets us. As I watch the poplar prepare for autumn,
- [Are You Tired of Feeling Like a Failure as a Mom?](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/05/18/to-the-mom-who-wanted-to-be-perfect-and-cant-seem-to-measure-up/) - I didn’t know I was aiming for perfection when I first laid eyes on the swaddled baby girl in the pink and blue hospital cap. She was beautiful, and I couldn't wait to teach her everything I knew about God and life. In that precious moment, feeling like a failure as a mom was the
- [Trusting God in Difficult Times: 3 Powerful Insights](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/10/28/when-life-hurts-how-to-let-your-pain-mold-you/) - Raindrops hang from the picnic table like glass beads on a string. Morning has come with heavy air and an ashen sky that goads us to sleep longer. Life has consisted of one rainy day after another here. It's been a hard season of learning about trusting God in difficult times. Perhaps you can relate.
- [4 Ways God Wants to Transform Your Mind for Deeper Joy](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/01/25/being-transformed-by-god/) - Just as God does unseen work in winter, he is working to change our desires and attitudes.
- [Easter Encouragement: Let God Lift Your Head](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/04/17/to-the-weary-and-heavy-laden/) - If you're feeling weary, wounded, or apathetic this Easter, hold onto this fresh truth and Bible encouragement.
- [God’s Guidance: 4 Ways to Find His Direction](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/09/11/finding-gods-guidance-for-your-decisions/) - Standing on the shoreline beneath Alaska's midnight sun, the hollow clap of clear water against stone echoes beneath my feet. I’ve come to Alaska to seek God’s guidance for my life. I have no way of knowing that God is waiting to offer direction that has little to do with the questions I’ve been asking.
- [3 Biblical Coping Strategies for Stress and Anxiety](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/11/10/3-biblical-coping-strategies-for-stress-in-your-life/) - I sit with the dawn and let my thoughts gather. The grey morning light lifts her sleepy head, and the thin air is embroidered with a crimson cardinal's song. My mind is scattered, and I feel like I've been stretched too thin. I’m thinking about packing lunches, painting walls, mid-morning Zoom calls, and new rain
- [How to Draw Near to God: 3 Simple Tips](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/06/03/how-to-be-refreshed/) - My family bought me Gerber daisies for Mother’s Day last year. The coral blossoms stood like beacons of hope on a dining room table cluttered with puzzles, markers, and an array of toys that seemed to have no rhyme or reason. This morning, I sat at that table with hard questions about how to draw
- [Igniting Your Spiritual Passion: 3 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/02/12/spiritual-passion/) - "What would igniting your spiritual passion look like right now?" a friend asks as we sit in her living room. "If I knew, I'd be doing it," I admit. "Why don't you ask God what you need to do?" she asks. I'm about to tell her I've already asked him, but I realize she's onto
- [How God Uses Brokenness in Your Life to Touch Others](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/10/09/how-god-uses-brokenness/) - If your brokenness has you feeling disqualified from loving others or fulfilling your calling, you might need to step back and heal, or you might need to let others love you in your pain.
- [4 Insights to Help You Keep Trusting God When It Hurts](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/03/09/trusting-god-when-it-hurts/) - A pale, yellow aspen leaf flutters from above. The shape of a teardrop, it swirls on some unseen current and lands at my feet. Picking it up, I’m reminded of the One who counts our teardrops and stores them in a bottle. It’s not easy to keep trusting God when it hurts. Circumstances have been
- [Inspiring Scripture About Serving in Quiet Places](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/06/10/for-the-woman-who-needs-to-be-reminded-of-just-how-much-this-pouring-out-matters/) - The night before our youngest was born, I took a walk in a thundershower. Something about the way the heavens came pouring out like a flood resonated with the past 40 weeks of my poured-out life. I'd been digging into Scripture about serving in hidden places and clinging to God with all my heart, but
- [Give It to God: 5 Ways to Give God Control](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/08/02/give-it-to-god-5-ways-to-surrender-and-give-god-control/) - A midsummer drought slows the creek to a trickle and darkens it to the color of black tea. I sit by the water with a friend, and we talk about hopes, dreams, and the prayers we desperately want God to answer. We talk about how hard it can be to surrender control—to "give it to
- [4 Ways to Discover Your Calling in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/03/21/your-calling-is-for-today/) - Many of us spend years searching for a calling in life. We get caught up in looking to what's next and planning the future. In reality, your calling is for this very day. Love the people in front of you right now. Serve where you are. Give today. You don't have to wait.
- [3 Ways to Let Go of Regret and Overcome Guilt](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/05/08/three-ways-to-let-go-of-regret/) - Bible truth and encouragement to speak into your regrets and missed opportunities.
- [5 Prayers for God's Guidance in Uncertain Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/12/15/how-to-let-god-lead-you-when-your-plans-fall-apart/) - Snow falls like a quiet kind of awakening, and when I listen closely, I can hear the heavy flakes gathering. I stand among the beech leaves as they cling to finger-like branches, waving at the dusk like these chilling grey days are not only expected but welcomed. As I listen to the leaves rustle, I
- [6 Questions to Ask When You’re in a Bad Mood for No Reason](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/03/16/6-questions-to-ask-when-youre-in-a-bad-mood-for-no-reason/) - Spring rain falls warm and soft against my skin. After the wind-swept months of winter, this rain feels like grace. I lift my hooded face to the grey sky as it spits the cleansing rain, and I have an honest moment about my life. Lately, I’ve been in a perpetual bad mood for no reason
- [4 Prayers for Hope and Peace in Difficult Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/02/16/dark-place-can-infuse-light-shattered-pieces/) - Truth for our broken hearts that offers healing, hope, and a glimpse of the Lord's heart in our pain
- [How to Surrender to God When Life Is Hard and Your Calling Feels Hidden](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/02/21/quiet-moments-matter-most/) - Truth for the days when you seem to come up short, when life feels lacking, when you're feeling less-than . . .
- [3 Unconventional Ways to Worship God While You Work](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/09/02/3-unconventional-ways-to-worship-that-will-transform-your-life/) - You are completely exhausted as you drive home after a long day of living out your calling. You know there are four loads of laundry waiting to be folded. The floors are filthy, and dinner waits to be cooked. You’d give just about anything to lie on the couch in front of the TV instead
- [A Simple Perspective-Shift for Overcoming Irritability](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/01/29/overcoming-irritability/) - It might have been the long walk through winter’s dark days that had me grumbling. Or maybe it was the fact that our household hadn’t been healthy for four months, a certain child wouldn’t obey a single imperative from his mother, or the waterline kept freezing. I needed some kind of help with overcoming irritability,
- [The One Truth You Need in Your Darkest Hour](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/10/23/the-one-truth-you-need-to-hear-in-your-darkest-hour/) - Truth and encouragement for your darkest hour and seasons of hardship and trouble. If you are in a difficult season, join us here for encouragement to press on.
- [4 Practical Ways to Overcome Perfectionism](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/10/03/4-practical-ways-to-overcome-your-inner-perfectionist/) - Overcome your desire to be perfect and allow God to transform your life.
- [Radically Remake Your Prayer Life With This Simple Tool](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/01/22/how-to-live-more-intentionally-with-a-prayer-list/) - Does your prayer life need a pick-me-up? Learn how to create a prayer list that will lead you encounter God while you pray and encourage your loved ones.
- [How Saying Yes to Life Might Be Your Gateway to Greater Joy](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/05/02/need-learn-say-yes/) - What if we're wrong about learning to say no? What if we really need to learn to say yes again?
- [How to Captivate the Heart of Jesus and Change Your Life Forever](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/06/23/how-to-captivate-the-heart-of-jesus/) - Dusk settles over Wyoming’s wild country as we gather beneath the milky light of a crescent moon. A cowboy strums his guitar, and I glance at his young apprentice on the far side of the deck. Our eyes lock, and I feel my heart leap in my chest. I have no idea this moment will
- [3 Practical Ways to Overcome Temptation](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/01/17/ways-to-overcome-temptation/) - Practical suggestions to keep you from slipping into past patterns.
- [7 Prayers to Be a Good Mother (Prayers for Hard Days)](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/06/21/when-enjoying-motherhood-doesnt-come-easily/) - Morning dawns with humidity hanging thick and heavy like a rain-soaked curtain. I’m tired after thunderstorms kept the youngest awake in the night, and I don’t want to face this day. These are the days when enjoying motherhood doesn’t come easily. These are the days when all my prayers to be a good mother seem
- [The Secret to Having Peace in Life When Your Plate is Full](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/09/18/the-secret-to-maintaining-peace-when-your-life-is-full/) - There is a clear difference between the call to be still and the call to stand still. If you are facing uncertain circumstances, read here for guidance.
- [How to Know When God Is Leading You: 4 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/18/why-you-might-be-missing-gods-voice-right-now-5-surprising-ways-god-speaks-to-us/) - Have you ever wondered how to know when God is leading you in a new direction? Discerning the difference between our desires and God's voice can be challenging. Today, we'll talk about finding direction from God and following his lead. How to Know God is Leading You "If God really speaks to us, then I'd
- [A Devotional Book That Will Bless You: I Love You, Mom!](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/01/28/a-mother-daughter-devotional-that-will-richly-bless-you/) - First light gives herself away without a hint of reservation, and I drink down the gift like I’m drinking from the fountain of life itself. We’re in the thick of what already feels like a never-ending winter, and I’m aiming to be intentional about tapping into life-giving resources. I’m slowing my rhythms to soak in
- [3 Practical Ways to Cultivate a Deeper Relationship With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/12/01/youre-searching-life/) - What if the abundance we seek is right at our fingertips?
- [15 Free Online Bible Studies and Devotionals](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/02/08/12-free-online-bible-studies-and-devotionals/) - Are you looking for a free online Bible study, devotional, or Christian book? You are in the right place! My vision is to provide tools to help you encounter God in your everyday life. For this reason, I have written a collection of free online Bible studies and devotionals to help you draw closer to
- [3 Questions to Help You Find Your Calling in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/03/20/how-to-unearth-a-god-given-calling/) - Practical suggestions for discovering your calling, finding God's will, and living the life you were meant to live
- [4 Gifts Hidden in Your Pain and Suffering](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/05/29/keep-your-eyes-fixed-here-in-the-valley/) - If you are walking through a valley in life, don't fix your eyes on the ridgeline; fix your eyes here instead . . .
- [When You're Struggling to Cherish Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/06/12/when-cherishing-the-moments-sounds-too-idealistic-for-your-actual-life/) - How to embrace the difficult moments of your life when you're struggling to cherish your days and walk in gratitude.
- [Are You Afraid of Missing God’s Plan for Your Life?](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/06/01/are-you-afraid-of-missing-gods-plan-for-your-life/) - I walk the country road at dusk—twilight folding over the path behind me like a parted sea falling back into place. I’ve been thinking about staying in step with God’s plans lately, and my heart feels bogged down by worries that I might somehow botch his plan. I wonder if you can relate. I wonder
- [When You Feel Broken: 4 Ways to Find Hope](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/04/when-youre-too-broken-to-find-a-bible-promise/) - When you feel broken inside, it's not easy to find hope to hold onto. I've lived through some broken seasons, broken in a thousand different ways. I invite you to join me on a difficult day, and we'll talk about where to turn in these moments. When You Feel Broken It’s a grey March afternoon,
- [How to Hope in God When He Makes You Wait](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/04/11/dont-lose-heart-transformation-slow/) - Sometimes all we need to do is lean into God, keep praying, and wait
- [How to Encounter God in Your Ordinary Moments](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/01/11/how-to-encounter-god/) - God is inviting you to notice him in the small blessings of your day. Cultivating gratitude.
- [One Word to Help You Navigate Holiday Sadness](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/11/20/how-to-give-thanks/) - If you're struggling this Thanksgiving, these words offer hope, encouragement, and comfort. Jesus has not left you. He is waiting to touch your heart.
- [Finding Rest in God: How to Create Space](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/11/11/how-to-make-space-for-your-soul-to-stretch-long-and-touch-god/) - The tamaracks are losing their needles again. They fall like golden flecks of rain, a gift from the Father of heavenly lights. I stop in the middle of the country road and let one fall into my open palm. I'm here because finding rest in God often comes most naturally to me beneath open skies.
- [Spiritual Renewal: 5 Fresh Ways to Connect With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/07/19/spiritual-renewal/) - A rumble of thunder pulled us from sleep, and we spent the morning in stillness while God washed the world with warm, summer rain. The thin pages of his Word rustled in the breeze while the rain crackled like fire licking up dry grass. Something about a slow morning felt like an invitation to encounter
- [How to Live for God and Find Deeper Joy in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/06/14/the-morning-invitation/) - We are called to seek God simply for his love, not for how he can guide and direct us.
- [Leaning on Jesus When You Feel Empty Inside](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/07/22/what-to-do-with-the-gaping-holes-in-your-life/) - There are gaping holes between the boughs of the blue spruce. I’m surprised to notice thick clumps of pinecones at the end of each branch. The spruce is bearing fruit, even in the gaps. I'm reminded of what I've been learning about leaning on Jesus when I feel empty inside. When You Feel Empty We
- [Passion for God: 8 Ways to Fan the Flame](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/15/when-you-need-to-jumpstart-your-faltering-faith/) - Tools and free downloads for when you need to jumpstart your faith
- [How to Have More Motherhood Joy in Challenging Seasons](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/08/28/how-to-live-with-more-grace-and-less-grit/) - A quiet undercurrent has been calling me into its flow throughout the past season. It's a gentle voice that whispers, "Let these struggles of motherhood soften you. Lean into the transformation. In doing so, you will cultivate a deeper sense of motherhood joy." Cultivating Motherhood Joy It is a gentle call to let these uncertain
- [Drawing Near to God When Life Is Overwhelming](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/02/03/finding-god-in-the-chaos/) - Winter sunlight sings her silver song, and I throw on the heavy parka, make the long walk through biting air, and pour warm water into silver bowls. The beagles lap it up while I stare at the glowing firmament and think about drawing near to God amid the chaos of a very full life. Drawing
- [How to Have the Joy of the Lord—No Matter What You're Facing](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/05/08/how-to-have-the-joy-of-the-lord-no-matter-what-youre-facing/) - I jogged through the vernal forest this morning. The tiny leaves offered a partial canopy overhead—not the deep emerald of summer, but the just-born chartreuse leaflets of springtime. The experience washed over me like a reminder of how to have the joy of the Lord embedded in my heart. Cold rain pattered on the forest
- [What to Do When Your Dreams Are Shattered](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/04/27/biblical-hope/) - Have you recently faced the loss of a dream? Maybe you're wondering what to do next, and you've been wrestling with God about this dream. You are in the right place. Today, we'll have an honest conversation about what to do when your dreams are shattered. I invite you to join me in the woods
- [The Truth About God and Your Emptiness in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/11/god-wants-to-speak-these-words-into-your-emptiness/) - The first red-winged blackbird appeared from out of the pasty white sky on a Sunday, and we marveled at the feeder like we’d never seen such a miracle. We were at the end of a season when all the emptiness in life had us feeling poured out. Everyday moments suddenly feel like miracles when everything
- [How to Keep Walking With God Through Dark Seasons](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/09/22/how-to-keep-walking-with-god-through-dark-seasons/) - Days are growing shorter. For our family, shorter days include more time together within the fawn-colored walls of our living room. I'm learning to appreciate the rhythms of indoor seasons. I also know I'll soon face winter days when walking with God through the darkness feels difficult. Not long ago, on one of these cloudless
- [Detours in Life: What to Do When Life Is Interrupted](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/11/01/life-takes-detour/) - God often uses detours to lead us to the destination he has in mind
- [7 Back-to-School Prayers for the New School Year](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/08/12/4-back-to-school-prayers-for-these-uncertain-times/) - A band of blue jays awakens the dawn with a cacophony of cackles. It's early, and I'm not ready to begin the day. Nevertheless, I brew the coffee and gather the kids for devotions. We talk about going back to school and embracing the last days of summer. We offer our back-to-school prayers and pray
- [How to Step Out in Faith When the Next Step Feels Scary](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/08/09/next-step-feels-scary/) - Truth for when the next step of faith feels scary
- [3 Ways to Hold on to God When You’re at the End of Your Rope](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/08/11/3-ways-to-cling-to-god-when-youre-at-the-end-of-your-rope/) - Someone tied a ragged rope swing over the creek last summer. I walked by that rope all winter, its frayed edges hanging grey and frozen over icy water. Sometime in the middle of those long winter months, the old rope started to remind me of the truth I needed when the sun hid its face
- [Refresh Your Soul: 15 Creative Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/06/07/fifteen-ways-find-refreshment/) - Refresh your weary soul
- [6 Creative Ideas to Help You Show Hospitality This Fall](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/09/12/6-ways-to-cultivate-hospitality-this-fall/) - Six creative ways to extend hospitality and create spaces where others know they belong this fall.
- [God Uses Broken People—and He Wants to Use You](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/01/11/god-uses-broken-people-and-he-wants-to-use-you/) - Have you ever wondered if your mistakes disqualify you from serving God? Today, I warmly invite you to travel back in time with me, and I'll bear witness to the fact that God uses broken people—and he wants to use you. God Uses Broken People My early twenties were tumultuous. I was angry with God
- [5 Meaningful Conversation Starters to Foster Hospitality](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/11/14/5-ways-to-foster-hospitality-through-meaningful-conversation/) - Cultivate hospitality by learning to ask deep questions that show interest and prompt others to open up about their joys and struggles.
- [A Powerful Prayer for Healing Your Hardest Memories](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/06/29/powerful-prayer-for-healing/) - Like a quiet sea at dawn, an orchid ocean of clouds hovers above the northern skyline. Even the oaks stand in awe—their lush summer canopies outstretched in reverence. I look to the heavens and utter a powerful prayer for healing as I think of a friend who’s been dealing with the sting of hard memories.
- [How to Find Strength in God When Life Is Tough](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/12/18/overcoming-obstacles-with-god/) - Instead of chastising yourself for your ongoing struggle with anxiety, reframe the battle and see how God might be using your struggle to answer your prayers.
- [5 Prayers for Spiritual Healing and Replenishment](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/10/31/building-ministry-hinders-growth-matters/) - It's far too easy to put our ministries above our relationships with God, and when this happens, we are limited in what we can pour out.
- [How to Worry Less and Enjoy Life More](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/12/26/why-laying-down-your-agenda-might-be-the-safest-thing-you-can-do-this-new-year/) - Why Laying down Your Agenda Might be the Safest Thing You Can Do This New Year; Bible truths; steps of faith; following Jesus into the unknown; releasing control
- [5 Inspiring Bible Verses About Discouragement](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/11/22/where-are-you-are-is-not-where-you-hoped/) - How would you answer if God asked, "Where are you?" This post is for anyone who's not where they hoped to be.
- [Why It’s Okay to Lack Satisfaction in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/03/07/okay-youre-not-satisfied-life/) - Why it's ok you're not fully satisfied or entirely fulfilled in your life. We were made for more. We were made for heaven and face-to-face interaction with God.
- [How to Lean on the Lord in Disappointing Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/01/23/when-your-life-is-not-going-according-to-your-best-made-plans-at-all/) - Bible truth and encouragement for times when your life is not going according to your plans and it seems God is letting you down; overcome disappointment
- [How to Trust God in Difficult Times: 4 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/02/13/how-running-from-your-pain-might-be-blocking-your-breakthrough/) - If you're walking through a difficult season, take time to let yourself feel your pain. Your pain might be the gateway to the next big breakthrough in your life.
- [Drowning in Life? This is for You](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/08/21/to-the-woman-who-feels-like-shes-sinking/) - If you feel like you are about to sink, hold onto this one Bible truth that has the power to save you in your drowning moments
- [15 Attitudes That Cultivate Biblical Hospitality](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/07/11/15-attitudes-that-cultivate-hospitality/) - How to offer Christian hospitality, ideas, attitudes
- [God Has a Plan for You—Even When He Seems Silent](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/04/15/your-unanswered-prayers-unfulfilled-dreams-and-never-ending-winters/) - We awoke to a fresh inch of snow on the lawn on the first day of April, and it felt like one more day tacked onto a never-ending winter. Whether you're facing a long winter or enduring a difficult season that seems like it will never end, it can be hard to hold onto hope.
- [This Word for the Year Could Change Your Life Forever](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/01/01/word-for-the-year/) - Prickly pine needles rise from the carpeting like tiny daggers aimed at stocking feet. I should hoist the vacuum cleaner from the basement and take care of it, but this mounting pressure to pick a word for the year has me glued to the recliner like a woman with a deadline. Last year’s word came
- [How to Fight Spiritual Attacks: 7 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/11/22/how-to-stand-your-ground-in-a-spiritual-attack/) - We lose a little more light every day now. I slip out for my evening walks beneath an underbelly of midnight blue. Not long ago, while walking beneath the canopy of darkness, I began thinking about how to fight spiritual attacks. I've been feeling discouraged in certain areas of my life lately. After weeks of
- [God Will Make a Way: When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/02/09/god-will-make-a-way-when-gods-ways-dont-make-sense/) - A thin band of pale light hovers over the horizon like a breath only partially exhaled. I watch from my window like I'm waiting for the day to exert itself by letting go of the light it holds in restrained lungs. I've been wrestling with God lately—the kind of wrestling you do when you begin
- [5 Things to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/02/22/when-youre-stuck-in-a-pit/) - Maple syrup season is also the end of winter. Many of us are depressed. Here are some solutions.
- [How to be Hospitable Without Being Stressed](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/01/15/5-ways-to-extend-hospitality-with-warmth-instead-of-stress/) - Five tips to help you be hospitable without being stressed as you invite people into your home and share Christian hospitality in creative ways.
- [How to Raise Frog Eggs and Have a Blast Doing It](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/03/22/how-to-raise-frog-eggs/) - Learn how to nurture frog eggs into full-grown frogs
- [Why Struggles in Life Are Some of God's Greatest Gifts](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/10/25/trials-are-gifts/) - Sometimes the pressure of life feels too difficult. Pressure is often a gift to sculpt us into the likeness of God, making us mature through trials
- [3 Ways to Draw Close to God When You're Weary and Worn](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/10/23/weary-and-burdened/) - Truth and encouragement for the weary, burden, discouraged, and overwhelmed. Stand on this truth when you're struggling.
- [How to Embrace Change: 8 Mindsets to Help You](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/10/16/8-mindsets-to-help-you-embrace-change/) - It happened on a balmy August evening with locusts droning on like a reminder that the earth would keep spinning, even if my world had shifted in an uncomfortable direction. It was time to learn how to embrace change, and it wasn't going to be a lesson that came easily. We will all face seasons
- [God Is Enough for Every Storm You Face](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/05/06/how-to-hold-on-when-the-going-gets-tough/) - It's easy to assume we have fear, grief, or suffering figured out, only to stumble into a different kind of storm and realize how many layers of understanding still wait to be peeled back. In these times, we need to know that God is enough for every storm. There are layers to hope as well.
- [What to Do When You Feel Spiritually Empty: 5 Steps](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/01/21/5-things-to-do-when-you-feel-empty-and-broken/) - How to find fulfillment in God when you feel empty and broken.
- [3 Empowering Prayers for Strength and Comfort](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/09/05/in-your-midnight-hour/) - Encouragement for the trials and broken seasons. An invitation awaits, even in your midnight hour
- [Be the Real You: 5 Reasons to Be Authentic](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/07/18/the-distance-between-the-woman-i-think-i-should-be-and-the-woman-i-actually-am/) - Truth about living as the truest form of yourself, embracing the way God created you, and taking off your masks
- [God, Lead Me in the Right Direction: 9 Prayers for Guidance](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/12/23/are-you-really-being-the-person-you-want-to-be-in-this-world/) - I recently drove ten minutes to the North Country Trail for an hour of hiking beneath the naked arms of the hardwoods. As I walked, I considered my life, my daily rhythms, and the state of my soul. "God, lead me in the right direction in my life," I prayed. Every few months, I slip
- [I Am Tired, God: Encouragement for Exhausting Seasons](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/07/24/break-from-life/) - If you are waiting for God to pour out his blessing and goodness in your life, begin by embracing this one simple principle.
- [How to Overcome Toxic Thoughts With God's Help](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/07/10/4-simple-steps-to-overcome-bad-habits-bad-days-and-toxic-thoughts/) - If you're feeling stuck, discouraged, or downcast, learn the power of taking your thoughts prisoner as you find freedom to live with a healthy soul.
- [How to Be a Woman of Gentle Strength](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/09/09/why-having-gentle-strength-might-be-the-most-radical-way-to-love-your-people/) - Our little boy turned six last week, and he's been asking me to spend the first moments of the day lying in his bed as we discuss kindergarten. I've been learning to live with a gentle strength that puts his needs above my desires. For this reason, I set aside my coffee every morning and
- [A Prayer for Strength and Healing When Life Hurts](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/09/21/a-prayer-for-strength-and-healing-when-life-hurts/) - The Queen Anne's Lace stands in full bloom—sprinkling the fields with flourishes of ivory. Admiring it from the window, I utter a silent prayer for strength and healing. Not long ago, I slipped into the woods on a balmy evening. As I gazed into the murky creek water, I assessed the state of my soul
- [Safe With God: When God's Will Feels Risky](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/04/25/how-to-find-gods-will/) - Following God generally requires risk and is not always safe. Join us here to uncover Bible truth for the times when following God does not feel safe at all.
- [5 Powerful Prayers for Strength When You Feel Weak](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/04/28/how-to-pray-powerful-prayers-for-strength-when-you-feel-weak/) - The poplar bows low like the weight of heavy sky has become too much to hold. I watch from the window with an empathetic heart, the weight of everything I feel like I need to carry bending me low in unseen parts of me. I’m praying prayers for strength, but I’m so bogged down that
- [Why You Don’t Have to Fear Being an Outsider](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/05/15/why-you-dont-have-to-fear-being-an-outsider/) - We all fear being left out and less-than at times. Join us here for Biblical truth on how to stand firm on your identity in Christ.
- [Start Praying for Your Children With This Life-Changing Prayer](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/08/14/the-one-prayer-your-child-needs-most-this-school-year/) - Not sure how to pray for your children? Here are eight Bible-based prayers with the power to transform their lives, including the one prayer your child needs most.
- [Following God Wholeheartedly When You Feel Unappreciated](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/04/03/when-your-calling-is-too-hard/) - If your calling feels too hard, too humble, and too hidden, don't lose heart. Today's post offers insight into living for an audience of One and seeking God first.
- [How to Overcome Fear With Faith](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/14/how-to-overcome-panic-with-faith/) - Not long ago, our family faced a battle with fear that surpassed any fear we'd ever known. As we wrestled with fear regarding the life of our child, I wrestled with God as I asked him to help me overcome fear with faith. On a cognitive level, I knew the answer: Faith pushes out fear
- [What to Do When the Walls Are Closing in](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/02/15/what-to-do-when-the-walls-close-in/) - What to do when you feel stuck, depressed, and are not sure what to do
- [How to Feel Your Feelings but Stand on the Truth](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/06/26/feel-your-feelings/) - Wisdom on to handle your emotions and process your pain, all while standing on God's truth and the Bible's promises to carry you through difficult seasons.
- [Start Your Day Happy With This 20-Second Routine](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/06/17/how-to-start-your-day-happy-with-this-20-second-routine/) - The alarm sounds, and it’s been less than an hour since I last laid eyes upon the digital numbers. In fact, I believe I saw these red glowing numbers every hour throughout the past night. What do you do when the idea of learning to start your day happy feels entirely unrealistic? I hear a
- [Time With God: Devotional Time Tips for Life's Busy Seasons](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/11/07/devotional-time-with-god/) - If you are struggling in your relationship with God, click here for tools to help you find time to meet with God in the midst of a busy life.
- [3 Steps to Take When You're Struggling With Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/05/16/when-youre-struggling-with-your-season/) - Encouragement, Bible truth, and hope for the one who is struggling through this season of life, walking through a trial, struggling with discouragement, or seeking greater fulfillment
- [5 Calming Prayers for Peace of Mind](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/04/21/5-calming-prayers-for-peace-of-mind/) - The blushing blossoms have withered and fallen from the tiny rosebush on the dining room table, quietly reminding us this place was never meant to be the wild rose’s home. I feel much the same: weary and aware that this world is not home. Staring at the shriveled bush, I utter a few prayers for
- [5 Inspiring Quotes to Help You Live Your Best Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/22/5-quotes-that-will-challenge-your-walk-of-faith/) - If your faith feels stagnant, check out these Christian quotes and words of encouragement to challenge you in your faith and fan the flame of passion for God.
- [5 Inspiring Bible Verses About Goals and Dreams](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/01/10/goal-becomes-idol/) - For those of us who are goal-oriented, it's all too easy for a goal to become an idol. Here are 7 quick questions to help you assess your goals.
- [What to Do When God is Silent in Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/11/13/what-to-do-when-god-is-silent/) - If you're having trouble hearing God's voice and God seems silent, read these words for direction and encouragement.
- [When You Feel All Alone in the World](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/07/08/when-you-feel-all-alone-in-the-world/) - Do you feel all alone in the world? I invite you to read these words slowly. Let them wash over you and shape you from the inside out. When You Feel All Alone in the World The clouds are laying low tonight. Layers of powder blue rest on smoky white. I hold my baby boy
- [Rewire Your Brain and Get Unstuck in Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/09/04/how-to-get-unstuck-by-rewiring-your-brain/) - If you feel stuck in a behavior or thought-pattern that is stealing joy in your life, learn how to retrain your mind by being intentional about your thoughts.
- [Am I Going to Heaven? (How to Have Confidence)](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/07/04/how-to-get-into-heaven/) - How to have assurance that you are headed on the pathway to heaven and face your doubts with Biblical and experiential truth
- [Instead of Pleading With God, Try This Prayer Posture](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/02/05/effective-prayers/) - Layers of ivory piled heavenward for weeks—the kind of snow that melts and freezes a half-dozen times, leaving crusty layers like some seven-layer dessert gone horribly wrong. I'd been pleading with God to lead me out of a tough stretch. I had no idea he was about to open my eyes with a very clear
- [How to Stop Being Moody and Irritable: 4 Practical Insights](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/04/24/4-ways-to-overcome-bad-moods/) - Do you feel downcast and discouraged? Discover four ways to live a fuller life by speaking words of life.
- [God Hears Our Prayers—Even When He Seems Silent](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/07/27/god-hears-our-prayers-even-when-he-seems-silent/) - The summer air was thick with humidity as we made our way into the wilderness. Hemlocks breathed their pungent, piney scent, and the river rolled along casually—inviting us into the clear, cool water. I had no idea this backpacking trip with a friend was about to become a lifelong reminder that God hears our prayers.
- [A Surprising Reason You Might Feel Spiritually Stagnant](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/01/20/a-surprising-reason-you-might-be-feeling-spiritually-stagnant/) - Winter wind washes the outside world with white, and the fields once so luxuriant with farmers’ crops are pale with sleep. I remember the sun-splashed fields of goldenrod as I read beside the window. Like this sleeping world, something inside me feels spiritually stagnant today. I want to be vibrant and faith-filled, but we've shifted
- [5 Reasons to Stop Seeking a “Balanced” Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/03/28/5-reasons-stop-seeking-balanced-life/) - Five reasons to consider our pursuit of balance. Maybe this pursuit really doesn't line up with the Word of God at all. Bible truth for finding balance.
- [A Free New Year Devotional to Help You Start Strong](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/26/a-2023-new-year-devotional-to-help-you-start-strong/) - Do you want to start the year by renewing your commitment to spend time with God? Like me, maybe you enjoy reading from an Advent devotional throughout December, but you hit a wall when the devotional ends. You feel a bit lost and aren't sure what's next. I have fantastic news. I have a free
- [3 Truths for When You're Searching for God](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/05/23/when-you-wonder-where-god-went/) - Bible truth, encouragement, and truth for times of waiting, discouragement, and doubt. Hold onto faith that Jesus is working in deep and unseen ways.
- [8 Powerful Scriptures to Pray Over Your Children](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/03/08/four-reasons-to-incorporate-nature-for-child-development/) - Tips and advice to make your child's first hiking trip a success
- [How to Grow in Faith: 5 Things You Can’t Take With You on the Journey](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/08/04/how-to-grow-in-faith/) - I sit beneath a salmon sunset and tell God I want to go deeper with him. A certain pattern of behavior comes to mind, but I dismiss it quickly. I want to learn how to grow in faith, but I'm not willing to let go of the habits holding me back. Maybe you can relate.
- [How to Get Out of a Rut in Life: 4 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/04/18/how-to-get-out-of-a-rut-in-life/) - Encouragement for the weary, for the times when you fail, and for those who search for purpose and meaning
- [Struggling to Draw Near to God?  This Is for You...](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/08/07/how-to-encounter-god-in-life-giving-ways/) - If your Bible reading has grown dull, your quiet time lacks focus, and you need a fresh way to seek God, join us here for how to ignite your faith.
- [How to Pray Powerful Prayers for Your Inner Circle](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/08/28/why-you-might-be-overlooking-the-most-important-part-of-your-calling/) - Uncover one simple change that will bring greater fulfillment in your work, purpose in your life, and clarity in your calling
- [Where Is God When We Suffer?](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/01/02/one-truth-that-will-change-your-season-of-suffering/) - Bible truth for your trials, suffering, brokenness, and difficult times
- [How to Lean on God for Strength When You're Ready to Give up](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/09/16/lean-on-god-for-strength/) - I wrote this post a while back, at a time when I was ready to give up on the calling of the season. Looking back, I'm glad I kept going. Here are a few words of encouragement if you need to lean on God for strength in a hard season. How to Lean on God
- [Empty Inside?  Take These 3 Steps Today and Get Filled](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/06/24/how-to-get-filled-when-you-feel-empty/) - Fog hovers over clear water this morning. I sit in silence as my soul waits for the Healer to reach out and touch these empty places inside of me. When's the last time you stilled your soul long enough to be real about the places where you feel empty inside? King David penned these words:
- [10 Comforting Truths for Your Storms in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/01/24/storms-in-life/) - Bible truth to lean on when life gets difficult, trials come, and obstacles stand in your path. You can trust God to carry you through even the most difficult trials.
- [How to Turn to God in Times of Crisis](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/04/22/god-is-trying-to-get-your-attention-how-to-turn-to-god-in-times-of-crisis/) - Shadows flutter on the wall as the candle flickers golden in front of us. I've gathered our three children to pray because I want to teach them how to turn to God in a crisis. As our time in prayer begins, I open the Bible. I read the words that have been floating through my
- [4 Things to Do When You Feel Helpless](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/03/14/sometimes-helpless-sometimes-not/) - Sometimes the scariest moments are the moments when we realize we are not helpless at all. Four things to do when you feel helpless, confused, or without answers.
- [How to Focus on Jesus Instead of Focusing on Your Problems](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/10/04/start-seeing-whats-right-instead-seeing-whats-wrong/) - We are called to take our thoughts captive and look for what is right in life instead of focusing on what is wrong
- [3 Questions to Ask If You Want a Deeper Relationship With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/09/15/3-questions-to-ask-if-you-want-a-deeper-relationship-with-god/) - I sit by the sliding glass and force myself to stay for ten minutes of silence and semi-solitude. I’ve been sitting by this glass intermittently for several years now, trying to incorporate rhythms that will teach me how to have a deeper relationship with God. Most of the time, nothing spectacular happens by this window.
- [To the Mom Who Is Barely Hanging on](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/04/10/for-when-you-are-barely-hanging-on/) - Encouragement for the season when you're not sure how to keep going or if the difficult days will ever end.
- ["Has God Abandoned Me?" (3 Promises From God)](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/09/08/has-god-abandoned-me-3-promises-from-god/) - I sit in the canyon where the granite is ribboned with a thousand shades of earthy beige. I’ve come to this canyon to find answers and seek direction for my life. Feeling alone and uncertain, I whisper painful words to the wild Wyoming sky: “Has God abandoned me?” I’ve endured some rough years, and I
- [Stop Being Miserable: 7 Negative Mindsets That Are Stealing Your Joy](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/02/20/7-mindsets-that-might-be-making-you-miserable/) - If you're feeling stuck in a rut or ready for fresh inspiration in your life, these words will challenge you to step into a fuller life.
- [4 Inspiring Prayers for Hope in Troubled Times](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/09/19/how-to-hold-onto-hope/) - How to smile when life is difficult, trials come, and hope is lost.
- [A New Year Devotional to Help You Start Strong](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/12/24/a-new-year-devotional-to-help-you-start-strong-in-2022/) - Do you enjoy reading from an Advent devotional throughout December? If you're like me, you hit a wall when Christmas comes and the devotional ends. You feel a bit lost and aren't sure what's next. Or maybe you recently decided you're going to start the new year by renewing your commitment to spend time with
- [6 Promises for When You Feel Abandoned by God](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/09/27/six-promises-feel-abandoned-god/) - Cling to these promises of God from Scripture when you feel abandoned by God as you go through trials and need encouragement from God's Word
- [How to Be Satisfied in Jesus When You're Struggling in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/01/18/how-to-be-satisfied-in-god/) - Encountering God in a way that brings lasting fulfillment, satisfaction, and contentment.
- [How to Declutter Your Mind With God’s Help](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/05/24/how-to-declutter-your-mind-with-gods-help/) - Last night I took a walk beneath a canopy of beech trees as patches of fog hovered over the creek beside me. I’d spent the week keeping up with the kids and trying to stay on top of a full schedule. Desperate to sort through my thoughts and declutter my mind, the forest called me.
- [For When You're Disappointed by God](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/02/07/when-god-disappoints-you/) - What to do when it seems God has let you down
- [How to Let Go and Let God: 5 Practical Ways to Surrender](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/09/13/how-to-let-go-and-let-god-5-practical-ways/) - The little one sits beneath a tall row of golden cone flowers. Ten feet tall, they tower like trees with vibrant sunny heads. As my boy throws stones into the dark water of Wolf Creek’s pools, I take a moment to consider how to let go and let God take control of my life. Like
- [14 Free Devotionals for Women Who Want to Grow With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/11/15/free-devotionals-and-online-bible-studies-for-women/) - Would you like to connect with God in deeper ways and experience his presence like never before? I hope to help you encounter God in ways that transform your life forever. For this reason, I have written a collection of free devotionals for women. I pray these devotionals bless you deeply and lead you closer
- [5 Tools for the Days When Your Quiet Time With Jesus Is Boring](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/01/5-tools-for-the-days-when-your-quiet-time-is-boring/) - What to do when seeking God feels like one more thing to do on a long list for your day: Revitalize your prayer life, Bible reading, and spiritual disciplines
- [How to Ignite Your Faith When You Feel Spiritually Stagnant](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/03/how-to-get-the-fire-back/) - Inspiration for the times when your faith is wearing thin and you need a fresh breath of inspiration
- [How to Be Still Before God When Your Mind Is Racing](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/07/05/how-to-be-still-before-god-when-your-mind-is-racing/) - After a few dry days, the rain returned this morning. Torrents fell in silver swaths that drowned out the melody of birdsong and swept us into the synchronous song of the sky. I sat by the window and let the crackling hush of falling water wash over me as I resisted the urge to begin
- [Opening Your Heart Is Just as Important as Opening Your Home](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/06/05/opening-our-hearts-is-just-as-important-as-opening-our-homes/) - How to extend hospitality anywhere by opening your heart and creating space where others know they belong
- [How to Have a Closer Relationship With God: 8 Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/11/21/a-4-step-method-to-revamp-your-quiet-time/) - If your quiet time and relationship with God needs recharged and refreshed, join us here for a free devotional to revamp your quiet time.
- [7 Empowering Bible Verses for Anxiety and Stress](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/05/30/7-truths-for-your-anxious-moments/) - Bible truth for times of fear and anxiety.
- [The Lie You Might Believe if You're in the Refining Fire](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/10/02/overcoming-struggles-in-life/) - If you are in a difficult season, you might be tempted to believe that God has abandoned you. Read these words for encouragement and truth for your journey.
- [How to Let Go and Let God Lead You in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/07/17/hold-onto-this-truth-when-youre-struggling-to-make-a-decison/) - Do you need God's guidance for a big decision? Join us here to uncover the one Bible truth you need to know as you wrestle with your plans for the future.
- [How to be Hospitable With Less Stress: 10 Easy Ways](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/05/09/10-ways-to-extend-hospitality-without-perfection/) - 10 simple ways to extend hospitality today, tools to help you open your home to others, and encouragement about offering hospitality without needing to be perfect
- [3 Reasons You Might Have “Misheard” God's Voice](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/01/30/three-reasons-you-might-have-misheard-god/) - Do you feel like you heard from God, but then everything fell apart? Discover three common reasons why we sometimes fail to hear God's voice accurately.
- [How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids (Do This Instead)](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/07/25/what-if-instead-of-being-angry-we-said-this/) - How to respond with grace instead of annoyance, kindness instead of anger, and love instead of frustration
- [A Free 2024 New Year Devotional to Help You Grow With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/12/26/a-free-2024-new-year-devotional-to-help-you-connect-with-god/) - Do you want to start 2024 by renewing your commitment to spend time with God? Like me, maybe you enjoy reading from an Advent devotional throughout December, but you hit a wall when the devotional ends. You feel a bit lost and aren't sure what's next. I have fantastic news. I have a free 2024
- [Seeing God Through Pain and Suffering: 5 Unexpected Things God Is Doing in the Dark](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/11/28/5-unexpected-things-god-is-doing-in-your-suffering/) - What is God doing in your trials and times of suffering? Bible truth for your struggles and encouragement for your faith.
- [How to Stop Comfort Eating and Turn to God Instead](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/01/16/12-ways-to-turn-to-god-instead-of-turning-to-food/) - How to overcome temptation and turn to God instead of food, entertainment, or comfort; tools for walking in freedom; seeking satisfaction in God
- [Thinking of Giving up on God? Read This First](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/05/20/thinking-of-giving-up-on-god/) - I vividly remember the day I decided to turn away from God. I decided that if he wasn't going to be faithful to me, I was done living for him. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you're thinking of giving up on God today, too. You're not alone. The day I gave up on God, I
- [8 Life-Changing Prayers for Your Kids](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/17/8-prayers-for-the-start-of-a-new-school-year/) - 8 Prayers for your children as a new school year begins
- [10 Things God Wants You to Know](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/10/30/10-things-god-wants-you-to-know/) - 10 Truths God wants to speak to your weary, hurried, overwhelmed soul.
- [A Boys' Devotional Book for Courage and Strength](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/15/help-us-launch-our-new-boys-devotional-book/) - Over the past few years, after writing two mother-daughter devotional books with our daughter, Bekah, many people have asked if I'll ever write a boys' devotional book with our sons. We have news to share today! We finally did it! Our Boys' Devotional Book Throughout the summer months, Aiden, Caleb, and I worked together to
- [A Daily Devotional for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/10/08/daily-devotional-for-boys/) - We have exciting news to share today. After months of work, our sons, Aiden, Caleb, and I are excited to announce the release of our new daily devotional for boys, God's Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength. You can find it right here today! A Daily Devotional for Boys After
- [Christian Devotions for Kids: Blogs, Books, and More!](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/12/16/sweet-bekah-is-launching-her-own-blog-for-kids/) - Throughout the past year, our daughter Bekah has been asking to start her own blog for kids. A few weeks ago, I told her if she could write fifteen Christian devotions for kids, we would do it. Honestly, I expected her to write a post or two and lose interest. Christian Devotions for Kids Much
- [7 Encouraging Bible Verses for Moms Who Feel Weary](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/06/30/to-the-overwhelmed-mother/) - I want to be the kind of woman who knows how to cultivate deep joy. Sadly, I often feel like the overwhelmed mother who yells too much and spends way too much time in survival mode. If you can relate, you're in the right place. Today, I'll share a story from our home; then, we'll
- [3 Ways to Cultivate Joy When You're Struggling in Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/04/30/3-ways-to-cultivate-joy-when-youre-struggling-in-life/) - It had been the longest winter of my life – the winter of counting down the weeks, the days, and the hours until my health returned. I spent it mostly staring at the dead landscape out the sliding glass door – beige earth folded under ribbons of grey sky that felt dismal and bleak. I'd
- [The Power of Imaginative Prayer](https://staceypardoe.com/2025/09/05/the-power-of-imaginative-prayer/) - I sincerely enjoy hosting other writers as they share their words in this space. Today, I'm happy to introduce my friend Traci Rhoades as she shares a personal experience involving imaginative prayer. Traci has been a great source of encouragement to me as a writer, and I'm honored to share her story here today. The
- [6 Miscarriage Prayers for a Friend or Loved One](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/31/the-secret-path-to-fulfillment/) - Fulfillment in life isn't found through chasing adventure. It's found through encountering the love of Christ and living for him.
- [Girl to Girl: A Life-Changing Mother-Daughter Devotional Book](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/10/21/huge-news-bekah-and-i-wrote-a-tween-and-teen-girl-devotional-book/) - We have huge news to share with you today! This might be the biggest news I've shared throughout my past six years of blogging! Drumroll, please! Eleven-year-old Bekah and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together! Last winter, Bekah saw a mother-daughter devotional written by an older mother-daughter pair sitting on our kitchen table. "We
- [A Life-Changing Book for Your Women's Small Group](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/02/09/this-free-small-group-bible-study-for-women-will-transform-lives/) - Are you searching for a book for your women’s small group? I have wonderful news. You can download my new book, Lean Into Grace: Let God's Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free, for free on Kindle Unlimited. If you're not familiar with Kindle Unlimited, I'll explain how the program works
- [Hope for Your Hidden Pain and Unspoken Struggles](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/08/08/your-unspoken-struggles-and-hidden-weaknesses/) - Truth about your deepest struggles and the weakness you try to hide.
- [Feeling Broken?  7 Truths to Lift Your Head](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/10/18/dont-fear-brokenness/) - God uses the broken parts of our lives to form us into new creations
- [5 Uplifting Prayers for Joy and Peace](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/04/05/three-lessons-from-the-flowers-in-my-pocket/) - What do the crumpled flowers given by our children teach us about life? Read to find out.
- [4 Ways to Overcome Obstacles With God](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/04/12/how-to-overcome-obstacles/) - When life is difficult, keep your eyes on Jesus and keep moving forward.
- [On Sale Now: Our New Mother-Daughter Devotional for Teen Girls!](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/11/05/mother-daughter-devotional-for-teen-girls/) - Today is the day! Bekah and I are thrilled to share our new mother-daughter devotional for teen girls. Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for sale in paperback and as a Kindle eBook today. You can even download it for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan right here.
- [A Mother-Daughter Devotional for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith!](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/10/mother-daughter-devotional/) - Today is the day, friends! Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith, our new mother-daughter devotional book, is on sale in paperback right here! In case you haven't been hanging around these parts lately, our 12-year-old daughter Bekah and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together, and we would
- [Join the Book Launch Team for Our New Mother-Daughter Devotional Book!](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/10/02/join-the-book-launch-team-for-our-new-mother-daughter-devotional-book/) - Bekah and I have an exciting announcement today! In a few weeks, we will release our second mother-daughter devotional book, and we're currently gathering our launch team of supporters. Our new book is called Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls. We'd love your support as we send this book
- [How to Process Disappointments Biblically](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/02/10/how-to-process-disappointments-biblically/) - As you know, I love supporting other writers. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to one of my close writing friends. Despite the fact that we live on different continents, I consider my friend Hadassah a kindred spirit. We regularly check in with each other on a personal level, pray for each other, and share
- [A Glimpse Into Our Family Road Trip to the Rockies](https://staceypardoe.com/2024/06/05/a-glimpse-into-our-family-road-trip-to-the-rockies/) - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take a family road trip across the country? Maybe you've considered the idea, but it doesn't seem practical. Last summer, alongside our three children (ages 12, 8, and 4), my husband and I traveled thousands of miles, climbed mountains, shivered in our sleeping bags, and
- [When God Calls You to Step Out: A Review of Fearing Bravely](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/02/02/when-god-calls-you-out-of-your-comfort-zone/) - I invite you to journey back in time with me. We'll talk about stepping out of our comfort zones, and then I'll offer insight into a book called Fearing Bravely, which will challenge you to step out, too! When God Calls You to Step Out: A Review of Fearing Bravely It’s past midnight in Tijuana,
- [How to Find Rest in God: A Review of Kelly Balarie’s New Book](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/09/29/for-when-youre-desperate-to-find-rest-in-god-a-review-of-kelly-balaries-book-rest-now/) - It comes to me as I bend over the sink, tomato juice spattered on the windowpane, a heavy crate of big pinks ripening beside me on the countertop. It’s a subtle impression upon the innermost part of me, and it goes something like this: Don’t hurry through these tasks. These tasks are gifts, and divinity
- [10 Outdoor Activity Ideas for Families](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/03/15/four-springtime-adventures-for-your-family/) - tips, ideas, and diy outdoor activities for family, spring, creative outdoor family fun
- [A Free Small Group Bible Study Book for Women](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/25/free-small-group-bible-study/) - Are you searching for a free small group Bible study book for your women's group? I have wonderful news. You can download my new book, Lean Into Grace: Let God's Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free, for free on Kindle Unlimited. I'll explain how the program works shortly. First, let
- [Why Your Daily Purpose is Far From Ordinary](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/10/18/why-your-daily-purpose-is-far-from-ordinary/) - I'm excited to introduce you to my friend Emily Saxe for this special guest post. While I don't regularly share posts from guest contributors, Emily and I are women with the same vision for reaching the world through the words God puts on our hearts. I had the joy of talking about life and writing
- [Combating Anxiety with the Power of Intentional Moments](https://staceypardoe.com/2023/01/20/combating-anxiety-with-the-power-of-intentional-moments/) - I'm thrilled to share the wise words of my friend Nichole Suvar with you today! Nichole and I met in the world of online writers, and every time I read her words, they touch my heart deeply. Today, I'm honored to share a post from Nichole about combating anxiety with the power of small, intentional moments.
- [Less Stress and More Peace: A Secret to Help You!](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/12/02/less-stress/) - We have a special gift for you. Every Friday in December, 12-year-old Bekah and I will be sharing a devotion with you. These Friday posts are adapted from our mother-daughter devotional book, Girl to Girl. We wrote the book with a vision for moms and daughters to read each devotion together, but we invite you
- [My Favorite Prayer Guide of 2022: Hidden Manna on a Country Road](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/11/18/my-favorite-prayer-guide-of-2022-hidden-manna-on-a-country-road/) - Cinnamon-colored sycamore leaves fall slowly, surrendering to the earth. I hold one in my hand, and it covers my flesh like a glove. For an instant, my mind drifts away from the problems of work and home. Peace cloaks me, and I think about the book that’s been serving as my prayer guide this autumn.
- [A Sneak Peek into Our New Mother-Daughter Tween and Teen Devotional Book](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/10/26/mother-daughter-devotional-2/) - Calling all moms and daughters! Today's post will be a bit different! Bekah and I are just dropping by to share an excerpt from the mother-daughter tween and teen devotional we wrote together this year! In case you missed our announcement last week, it's called Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship
- [Casting Our Nets](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/10/20/casting-our-nets/) - Today isn't my usual day to post, but I'm excited to share the words of one of my dearest lifelong friends today. I met Courtney McNamara when we were in fourth grade at East Lawrence Elementary School, and we've been friends ever since! Courtney is a gifted artist, a talented published author, and a tender
- [5 Ways to Rest in God’s Presence: A Review of Just Rest](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/04/29/how-to-rest-in-gods-presence-a-review-of-just-rest/) - Snowflakes fall like a quiet benediction on a hushed spring morning. I awaken feeling groggy after another night of tending to coughing children. I’m desperate to rest in God’s presence this morning—to let his love wash over me and fill the empty places. Opening Melanie Redd’s new book, Just Rest: A 90 Day Devotional Journal,
- [Why Today Is Going to Be a Good Day](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/04/25/why-today-is-going-to-be-a-good-day/) - Above a scrim of wispy cirrus clouds, a hawk cries out as it soars upon some unseen current. For the first time since autumn, we slept with the windows open last night. Awakening to a cacophony of birdsong and the melodies of God’s created world feels like a gift given directly from his hand. “Today
- [I Surrender All (Sort Of): A Review With Reflections](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/03/01/i-surrender-all-sort-of-a-review-with-reflections/) - Daybreak sings a solemn song over a cross-stitched blanket of nutmeg, ash, and ivory. The skeletal arms of the maples still hold their white cloaks, and just a thin strip of charcoal gravel delineates the arched center of the country road. I take it all in from the window as I soak in Michelle Lazurek’s
- [How to Communicate Better With Your Tween Daughter](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/02/11/how-to-communicate-better-with-your-tween-daughter/) - I'm excited to share a guest post with you today! A few weeks ago, I shared a photo of Bekah holding our new mother-daughter shared journal. I invited Stacey and Lexi Shannon, the mother and daughter coauthors of the journal, to share a post with you today, and I love what they came up with!
- [How to See God's Glory in Your Everyday ](https://staceypardoe.com/2022/02/21/how-to-see-gods-glory-in-your-everyday/) - I'm honored to welcome my friend Emily to the blog today. She has some wonderful resources to share with you. I've already received mine, and these will bless you richly as you learn how to see God's glory in your everyday spaces! Here's Emily: ~~~ Tears streamed down my cheeks as my hands gripped the
- [31 Prayers for Refreshing Daily Joy](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/11/22/refreshing-daily-joy/) - A couple of years ago, a friend I knew from the online writing community reached out and invited me to a phone interview. We both write about encountering God in ordinary places, and it seemed like a great fit! Little Aiden was three months old at the time, and I happened to schedule the phone
- [Mama, Let Go of Your Desire to Control](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/11/12/mama-let-go-of-your-desire-to-control/) - I'm so excited to share a guest post from my friend Tabatha today! Tabatha has been an inspiration and encouragement to me time and time again, and I think her words will resonate with every woman who has a hard time with the desire to control the outcomes in her life! Here are Tabatha's words:
- [The Teens in Your Life Need This Book: Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/10/16/the-teens-in-your-life-need-this-book-transforming-your-thought-life-for-teens/) - I spent almost a decade teaching teens in a local public high school. Throughout those years, I also served as a youth leader and mentored dozens of teens through the tumultuous journey of adolescence. I wish Sarah Geringer's book Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens had been available throughout those years! This book is a
- [A Daily Bible Reading Guide to Transform Your Life](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/10/08/a-daily-bible-reading-guide-to-transform-your-life/) - The sumac has come to life in shades of fiery crimson. I stare at it from my perch by the window and open God’s Word with a sense of expectation. A few weeks ago, I started a new daily Bible reading guide, and this devotional is leading me straight to the Lord. I’ve been learning
- [How to Make the Most of Your Time: A Review of “Around the Clock Mom”](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/01/13/make-the-most-of-your-time/) - I awaken before the little ones for the first time in what feels like years. There’s a fresh skiff of snow resting like a cloak over frozen earth. I brew the coffee – careful not to make any noise whatsoever – and I whisper these words, “Make the most of your time alone, Stacey. This
- [Jesus’ Words for Your Troubled Times and Mountaintop Moments (with Deb Wolf)](https://staceypardoe.com/2021/01/06/jesus-words-for-your-troubled-times-and-mountaintop-moments-with-deb-wolf/) - The pines dance silvery-white in the morning sunlight, and if I listen closely enough, I swear I hear them singing in unison. Winter is the quiet season in this part of the world. It’s also the time of year when my soul starts itching for Jesus’ words to reach down from the fiery firmament and
- [Live Yielded to God for Sweetness of Spirit](https://staceypardoe.com/2020/03/16/live-yielded-to-god-for-sweetness-of-spirit/) - Hello, friends! I'm honored to share a guest post from my dear friend Kelly Baker with you today! Kelly's words point to truth, all while offering practical insight for following Christ in the midst of full lives. She is a prayer partner, encourager, and like-minded sister on mission. Enjoy this challenge to cultivate a sweetness
- [Go Ahead and Wear Your Fat Pants: How to Love Your Body the Way it is](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/01/27/how-to-love-your-body-the-way-it-is/) - Encouragement to stop trying to be perfect, fit an ideal body image, and impress others. Your identity is in the way you love.
- [Five Benefits of Spending One-on-one Time with Your Child](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/07/five-reasons-i-take-my-daughter-on-dates/) - Five reasons I take my daughter on dates
- [Four Lessons from the Woman at the Well](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/03/26/four-lessons-from-the-woman-at-the-well/) - Find out what we can learn about Jesus from his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.
- [How to Embrace New Thoughts about Old Things - with Kelly Balarie](https://staceypardoe.com/2018/07/06/how-to-embrace-new-thoughts-about-old-things/) - How to trust God for a renewed mind; a review of Kelly Balarie's Battle Ready
- [How to be Happy with What We Have](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/06/30/how-to-be-happy-with-what-we-have/) - How to be happy with what we have
- [Welcome Aiden James Pardoe!](https://staceypardoe.com/2019/05/30/welcome-aiden-james-pardoe/) - A personal update!
- [Pray Big Things for Your Little Ones](https://staceypardoe.com/2017/06/09/pray-big-things-little-ones/) - An array of guest posts and articles

## Pages

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- [My Story](https://staceypardoe.com/about/) - Stacey Pardoe Bio
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## Tags

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