Meeting God in the Middle of Your Mess

Rest beckons in traditional quiet spots, right? Katherine Catlett suggests we can also find it in the everyday chaos.

Elisa

Meeting God in the Middle of Your Mess

By Katherine Catlett

Your to-do list has a to-do list,

you have 10 unread text messages,

you haven’t shaved your legs in 10 days,

somehow your monthly calendar is already full (with good things…but very little time for yourself).

You’ve been overwhelmed and ignoring it for far too long…and now, the crash out begins. I was just in such a calm, simple season—what happened?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in a busy “season” all year so far. I’ve traveled at least once a month while balancing a full-time job,

close-distance friendships,

long-distance friendships,

a boyfriend,

and a budding writing career.

Maybe for you it's balancing the family schedule,

a full-time job and a part-time job,

a marriage,

and aging parents.

Or you’re starting your first year of school and can’t wrap your head around how you’re supposed to keep up with your classwork,

friends,

club activities,

or sports practices.

Whichever boat you fall into, we’ve all been there…somehow, someway, we can resonate with feelings of overwhelm and like everything is “too much.”

It’s easy to be in the middle of a chaotic season and want to skip to the other side of it all—the side where you’re not rushing from one thing to the next. But what if it wasn’t just about getting through to the other side? What if it’s about finding rest for your soul in the middle of it all?

As someone who enjoys being out in nature, I love the imagery David describes in Psalm 23:1-3.

“The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

He leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

Bringing honor to his name” (Psalm 23 1-3, NLT).

Resting in green meadows and hangin’ beside peaceful streams sounds dreamy, right? I think it’s in seasons like this that we can trust God knows what we need to refresh our souls—he knows our “green meadows” and “peaceful streams".

So I’m wondering for us both—how can we create space and margin for ourselves in the middle of our busy? What are ways we can intentionally slow down, even if it’s just for 15 minutes, to experience our Psalm 23?

Here are some ideas that come to my mind. Hopefully, these can help get you started:

• Use your car time as worship time.

• Drink your coffee (yes, before it gets cold) without scrolling on your phone and notice how the steam comes off the top.

• Call a friend or family member who gives you life.

• Eat a meal in silence.

• Read the book that’s been sitting on your shelf for months.

• Go for a short run (or walk) to clear your head.

• Pet a dog (if you’re not allergic, duh).

And in the meantime, remember to give yourself a little bit of grace. God is a good shepherd and knows exactly what you need.

Katherine Catlett is the Social Media Manager and Strategist for Reclaim Today, a part of Our Daily Bread Ministries. She graduated in 2022 from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She started writing at 12 years old and has filled up 36 journals (and counting) since then. She has a deep passion for writing, mentoring, and encouraging young women on their journey to become who God has created and called them to be. If you want to read more from Katherine and follow along with her publishing journey, you can follow her on Instagram at klcatlett or visit her website at https://www.katherinecatlett.com/.