Whether you’re here for the backstory or just ready to sit for a minute. Welcome to The Quiet Corner.

BACKSTORY

I tell the story about how I left my old job for money, resigned from the new job six weeks later, and came back because the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

God needed to get my attention. He let me run headfirst into a decision I had to unravel in real time, with no plan, no backup, and nowhere to hide from myself.
I should have been deep and heavy into my prayer space asking for His guidance before I took it. My old job even told me to be patient about the increase because opportunities are coming. However, I couldn’t see my husband working 7 days a week anymore. I looked at the number and moved to the opportunity outside the company.

I left a company that:
I enjoyed being there.
People enjoyed me being there.
I felt seen
I felt heard

And it aligned perfectly with my life

But I told myself I’d figure out the rest of it later with the new job, the fit, the culture, and the peace, like those were optional extras instead of the actual point. The new job made it sound so nice, like when you go to the store and it's not on your list, but you keep eyeing it, so you place it inside your cart

I wasn’t asking God what He wanted. I was asking myself how we could benefit off of this new opportunity.

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Six weeks in, I knew this wasn’t for me. The managers started to have daily touchpoints.

All of my communications to the client had to be quality checked by management before being sent. I received feedback that my communication, critical thinking, and soft skills need improvement. Honestly, this shocked me because the jobs I have worked in my life rated these skills exceptional.

A lot of nit picking, such as I would put rd after 3 when making the date (for example: June 3rd, 2026) and I shouldn’t have. The list goes on. There was this constant unease that wouldn’t let up no matter how I tried to talk myself out of what I was experiencing. I would stay late, log in early, and work on weekends to still be behind because the system was outdated. People who were working their for years putting in 50+ hours a week. I reached a point when I consulted with my husband about what I was going through because he has been a manager for 10+ years, plus he is always honest with me. He confirmed that I ran into a bad company environment.

Looking back, I think the unease was God. He needed me to go through this experience. He needed me to be shaken up. He needed me to get back to spending alone time with Him.

Resigning with no job lined up was trusting in God that we would be okay. Understanding that His plan is far greater than ours. Trusting that He has our life already planned out. (Think about that BLOWS MY MIND)

And leaving with no security is where it got real between me and God. Not in the decision itself, but in the empty space after it. My husband and I created a routine to get me back coming to God. I need to come to Him broken, lost, and humbled. To be honest, God is the only solid in a season when everything is shaking. I think we do not run to God the way we say we do until we’ve run out of everything else. Going back to my old job wasn’t a miracle. The miracle was God transforming me during a vulnerable moment. I wasn’t the same person who left. I was someone who learned that peace is worth more than money, that obedience doesn’t always make sense on paper, and that God is steady even when I’m the one who made the mess.

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)

I wouldn’t undo those six weeks. They gave me a version of faith that isn’t just something I say, it’s something I’ve actually tested and found true.

From my quiet corner to yours. I pray that we continue to be reminded to lean on Him daily and give ourselves grace. I hope by me sharing that people can take what they need.

About the Author:

Bree’ Smith is a Pharmaceutical Program manager and a work from home, stay at home, homeschooling mom of three (6 year old, 2 year old, and 8 month old), doing life alongside her husband. She holds an MS in Human Resource Management, and BS in Social work. Bree writes The Quiet Corner, a Substack about faith, motherhood, and building an honest life filled with chaos, grace and all. She shares when God puts it on her heart to share.

That’s it. To be honest, that’s the whole reason. Not a bad manager. Not a toxic environment. Not a spiritual push. Just numbers on paper that looked better than the numbers I already had.

Also, I left because my husband was working 7 days a week to make ends meet, and that was NOT sustainable.

Six weeks later, I resigned. Effective Immediately. No job lined up.

I know how that sounds. CRAZY, right?! During this time, I saw a lot of stuff on LinkedIn popping up about people leaving their jobs after three weeks, and another person said a few months. When you are reading these stories, it is honestly hard to believe because you are like, how can you only be there for a little time and can tell that this isn’t for you? My thought process was like this because I have never had a bad experience at a workplace until now.

But I understand how they felt. Six weeks was enough to know I made the wrong call, and I couldn’t sit on my wrong call for a paycheck any longer. Some things cost more than money can buy back.

I won’t drag out every detail of what those six weeks were like. I will give you a little insight. I cried a lot. I logged in early, stayed late, and worked weekends just to stay caught up but not to be caught up. Yes, I know that part blows my mind. I wasn’t myself working at that job. I was yelling at the kids, Patience getting thinner and thinner. I was declining calls because I wasn’t in the space to talk anymore. I had a very picky manager. I had put travel agency, and she said it should be travel partner (but no document to say this needed to be this way).

I asked a simple question in the group chat, asking my manager, “Would you like me to send venue contracts to you for review and flag any callouts, or should I just proceed with booking?” She replies Which program is this for because I need context. I provide her with the program ID, location, date, venue, and speaker. She replies, “We can discuss this during our meeting”. I am a bit confused by her answer, but I roll with it.

We have our meeting; she says that my question made it seem like I have an issue with the venue, and I explain to her that there is no issue with the venue. I wanted to make sure the process is still the same since I am taking over a different client. She proceeds to tell me that I should have led with “I have a process question then asked my question. I tell her thank you so much; my apologies. I am big on taking responsibility for my mistakes, which they have definitely noticed because I received a long email breaking down how my communication, quality control, and critical thinking need improvement. Also, they said I need to work on my soft skills, which is an area that I excel in.

There is so much more I can say with this job, but you get what I am saying. Shortly after that long email from my manager recapping our discussion, I typed the resignation letter with no plan B. No interview lined up. No safety net except one I couldn’t see yet.

And then I went back to my old job.

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Going back means admitting out loud that you left something that wasn’t and now you’re asking for the door back open. I was a little disappointed in myself because I left something that looked better and wasn’t. I got in contact with my old managers asking to return. I told them I would mop the virtual floors. (yes, that is how terrible my experience was at the new job)

My old managers said yes for me to return.

I think about that a lot. How the door I walked out of wasn’t actually closed. How money can talk you into a decision your gut already knows is wrong and how fast six weeks can prove it. How going back isn’t failing.

I’m writing this article because I think a lot of us make big decisions based on the number at the top of the offer letter and don’t ask hard questions about everything underneath it. And I think a lot of us stay somewhere too long after we already know the alignment is off because we feel like we are stuck.

Six weeks taught me that everyone isn’t going to like you, and it’s okay that you are different. And going back isn’t defeat when it’s where you are actually supposed to be.

I’m back where I started. Except I’m not the same version of me that left.

Wisdom collected:

• I used to think leaving without a plan was irresponsible. Now I think staying somewhere your spirit is screaming “no” is the real irresponsibility.

• I found that peace and comfort aren’t the same thing. I had comfort at the new job’s salary. I didn’t have peace. It took losing sleep over a paycheck to learn the difference.

• Six weeks stripped me down. It allowed me to come back to Him, broken and humbled.

• I used to think going backward meant I’d failed forward wrong. Now I know some doors open and close for a reason.

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From my quiet corner to yours. I pray that we continue to be reminded to lean on Him daily and give ourselves grace.

About the Author:

Bree’ Smith is a Pharmaceutical Program manager and a work from home, stay at home, homeschooling mom of three (6 year old, 2 year old, and 8 month old), doing life alongside her husband. She holds an MS in Human Resource Management, and BS in Social work. Bree writes The Quiet Corner, a Substack about faith, motherhood, and building an honest life filled with chaos, grace and all. She shares when God puts it on her heart to share.

But this season has opened my eyes to the reality that most lessons are learned while I’m still in it. While I’m moving through my day to day duties, setting boundaries, praying through confusion, and choosing obedience without a full explanation.

I’m learning…

1. Discernment doesn’t always come with an explanation

   There were many times when I wanted God to show me a clear reason why something needed to change. Why is this happening all of a sudden?

   Instead, I felt a quiet but firm nudge, a whisper saying “This needs to change.” “This isn’t healthy anymore.”

   At times, I resisted the urge to listen because there was no clear timeline for the change. There wasn’t a big moment that told me a change was right around the corner.

   Just an inner knowing, one that honestly required me to trust God more than my need to explain things or see what was ahead.

   I am guilty of it. Sometimes I have a hard time trusting what my physical eyes can’t see.

   “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

   Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

2. Compassion without boundaries is self-abandonment

   This one has opened my eyes a lot.

   Being a caring and supportive person has shown me how easily compassion can turn into self-neglect. I spent a long time trying to hold space, extend grace, and make things work, even when it came at the cost of my emotional safety.

   I brushed things under the rug until the rug became so high with everything underneath that needed to be addressed.

   I start to wonder: am I tripping how I feel?

   I wonder if this comes from growing up in a home where feelings weren’t acknowledged, or if something happened that we simply didn’t discuss it.

3. Peace is louder than urgency

   For a long time, I confused urgency with obedience. If something felt intense or emotionally charged (basically the vibes were off), I assumed it needed immediate attention.

   But the decisions that planted the most meaningful seeds were the ones where I created distance, slowed conversations, and let God lead instead of reacting.

   I’m learning to surrender and trust the stillness. Not every moment requires a reaction. Not every misunderstanding needs a defense.

   Peace looks like letting God move while I step back.

   “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

4. I don’t have to explain myself to be right

   Wowww….. this is a powerful lesson.

   There were conversations where I wanted to defend my intentions, clarify my heart, and make sure I wasn’t misunderstood.

   But I`m learning that overexplaining, sending screenshots to show what I said to prove a point (yess, this is me), and trying to make people to see my side is rooted in seeking approval.

   Silence speaks volumes. It’s an act of faith.

   Trusting that God sees what others may never understand and knowing that He will reveal everything when he deems fit.

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more lessons are unfolding…

surrendering and trusting in His plan,

Bree’ Smith

The question normally pops up in my head…

• moments when I lost my patience.

• the kids are sound asleep.

• after I apologize for yelling.

• overstimulated.

• resetting the space for them.

“Good Mom” image we see on social media

• patient all the time.

• gentle every moment.

• organized and calm.

• never overwhelmed.

• always emotionally regulated.

• always sure of herself.

sorry to break it to you but this doesn’t exist. we aren’t perfect. however, so much of us measure ourselves against this idea of a good mom.

Scripture gently reminds us that perfection was never the goal:

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God never asked mothers to be perfect.

He offers grace for the places we feel weakest.

He wants us to seek Him, and we will find Him.

Raw, authentic, and vulnerable motherhood experience looks like

• answering “mom?” 500 times a day.

• being touched constantly.

• thinking about snack time and meals.

• holding babies while answering the phone.

• kids following you to the bathroom.

• breaking up siblings arguments.

• thinking about the kids when they aren’t with you.

• making sure they are safe all the time.

• showering them in love.

• seeing them for who they are.

• praying over their minds, body and souls.

• planting seeds in them.

• connecting with them.

• being present.

• them wanting attention while your on the phone but you gave them attention all day.

it’s loving deeply even when you are stretched thin

And the midst of it all we expect ourselves to feel peaceful and calm

But God sees the unseen work:

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Motherhood is holy, repetitive, unseen work.

And God calls it doing good.

Moment after you lose your patience

And every mom knows this moment

• you raise your voice.

• you are dysregulated.

• you react.

And the guilt starts rushing in super fasssstttt then you start to questioning yourself like am I a good mom?

But let me remind you of the truth that we rarely say:

Good moms repair.

• they hug.

• they reflect on their actions.

• they say. “I’m sorry.”

• they pray for God’s guidance.

• and they try again tomorrow.

And in those moments, we reflect the heart of God:

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we take the time to acknowledge our wrongs, apologize, repair, and try again.

Guess what? we are teaching our children what grace looks like.

Invisible work of a good mother

Good mothers ask questions like:

1. Am I doing enough?

2. How can I be more patient?

3. How can I love them better?

The questioning itself is evidence of love.

And Scripture reminds us that love is the standard:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Not perfect.

But persevering.

I see your load

There is a kind of work mothers do that no one sees.

• The mental load.

• The emotional regulation.

• The constant anticipation of needs.

• The invisible planning.

Your children may not remember every meal or well thought out activity.

But they will remember the feeling of home.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

the Strength

the Dignity

the Wisdom

the Faithfulness.

This is the picture of a godly mother.

Not perfection.

Truth is

A good mother is not a flawless woman.

She is:

• a safe place.

• a steady love.

• a human who keeps growing.

• a woman who keeps showing up.

Even when she is tired.

Even when she is unsure.

Even when she is questioning herself.

And when you feel like you don’t have enough to give, God reminds you:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Every morning you get new mercy.

Every day you get to begin again.

so if you’re asking the question or the thought crossed your mind…

“Am I a good mom?”

you are likely already doing the most important thing:

• You care.

• You are trying.

• You are growing.

• You are showing up again tomorrow.

And the fact you are asking the silent question… is the answer!

Wishing you so much peace and love,

Bree’ Smith

I texted one of my good friends, and asked “do you have the capacity?”

I asked because I wanted to be mindful of her mental space and make sure she truly had the capacity to hold what I was carrying. As humans, we often unload on others without realizing that they may be going through something we can’t see. I’m guilty of this too because I don’t always stop to ask if someone has the mental space.

You know what I felt after I sent the message? GUILTY

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I did not feel this way because I reached out. I felt GUILTY because I didn’t run to God first. The tug in my heart, the conviction I felt was Him reminding me who I needed to run to before anyone else

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I didn’t even call her that day. Instead, I ran to God and let it all out. I realized I truly couldn’t explain everything to her because I didn’t take this to my Father first. That moment of pause was discernment

We are so quick to run to another human before we run to God, even though He longs a relationship with us.

That night, I poured it all out to God, crying and all. The next morning, as I was driving to my doctor’s appointment, I did the same thing. It was pretty raw because it was just me and the baby in the car, listening to worship music, talking to God, and crying.

After my doctor’s appointment, I called her and apologize for not calling. I explained that I was mentally tired and that I’m learning to build muscle memory to go to God first.

because the pause of discernment and conviction reminds me He is more than enough.

And Before I seek comfort from people, I seek Him.

Have you ever felt a quiet conviction that reminds you to seek Him first?

There have been frustrating situations that pulled me out of character, moments where I reacted from my flesh instead of responding with patience, understanding, and love. I’ve asked myself if it’s because I’m only a month and a half postpartum. Maybe my hormones are still out of whack. I don’t know.

What I do know is this: I took responsibility. I apologized. And I cried out to God more times this week than I can count.

It’s hard when you feel like both sides of a story aren’t seen. When something sits heavy on your heart, but life doesn’t pause. Even with all of this weighing on me, the day didn’t slow down. I still had to show up fully present, patient, and attentive as a mother.

That means being home, de-escalating, redirecting, repeating myself. Safety is something I don’t play around with. I take it seriously. And while some believe children need to “learn the hard way,” my heart isn’t wired that way. Protecting them matters to me, even when it costs me my energy.

Today felt like the icing on the cake.

My son wasn’t listening no matter how many times I repeated myself. My daughter follows what her big brother does. While I am feeding the baby, the older two needs my attention. The list goes on. In the midst of it all, something shifted. I realized I understand why people feel the way they do when they’re overwhelmed, stretched thin, trying to be everything to everyone at once.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭41‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A mother’s work is never done. There are no real breaks, just transitions from one need to the next.

And yet even here, God meets me.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I don’t wake up with enough strength for the whole day. I receive it moment by moment.

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I’m learning that I don’t have to get it right every time. I just have to keep coming back to Him, repenting when I fall short, receiving grace when I’m tired, trusting that God sees me even when the day feels unseen.

Even though motherhood today was rough, I raised my voice, felt the guilt creep in, and experienced conviction. I owned it. I apologized to my children. I talked with God. And I’m ending the night cuddled up with the little humans He has blessed me with.

This week has been rough.

But His strength has been steady.

And for today, that’s enough.

Fast forward to today: I am 32 years old, married with two children, and I had the joy of being baptized alongside my husband and pastor. It was an incredible, beautiful moment a public declaration of my faith in God.

One thing the pastor said that really stuck with me was, “There are people who come to church every week but still haven’t made the decision to publicly declare their faith in God.”

This experience reminded me that God’s timing is perfect. It doesn’t matter your age, your circumstances, or where you’ve been. He will have you when you are ready. Baptism is more than a ritual; it’s a declaration of obedience and surrender to Christ, as

Romans 6:4 says: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

I encourage anyone reading this: God’s invitation is always open.

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

No matter where you are in life, God will meet you. Trust His timing, and step into the life He has for you.

Wishing you a day filled with peace, purpose, and grace. Also, always remember: SELF - Shine Every Light Freely through Christ, letting your faith heal others, your truth radiate boldly, and reflect God’s glory in your words, thoughts, and actions.

Thank you for being here! -Bree’ Smith

If we are followers of Christ, our response should look different. Scripture tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and pray for those who hurt us. Nowhere in the Bible does it say to wish death on someone or to dance with joy at their tragedy. If anything, we are called to grieve over brokenness and seek God’s heart even more.

Scripture from Matthew 5:43-44

My reflection isn’t about perfection it’s about alignment. If we truly want to be Christ-like, our actions, words, and even thoughts should reflect Him. The world is already filled with enough darkness. We are meant to be light.

Scripture from Luke 6:27-31

I leave you with a prayer:

Dear God,

I ask You to come into our hearts and reveal to us what we need to see so we can reflect Your glory. Remind us that we don’t battle hate with hate but with love, patience, and grace. Guide our steps, thoughts and decisions to align with You so we can honor You.

In Jesus name I pray,

AMEN

Wishing you a day filled with peace, purpose, and grace. Also, always remember: SELF - Shine Every Light Freely through Christ, letting your faith heal others, your truth radiate boldly, and reflect God’s glory in your words, thoughts, and actions.

Thank you for being here! -Bree’ Smith