First Things First

If Summer Wasn’t Restful, Start Here.

Shawna Sullivan — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 23:01:34 GMT

“Ready or not, here I come!” I shouted in silence to myself. Desperately needing to seek out some quiet in the “lost and found” corner of my brain, I hurried to the one room where no talking or phones could interrupt without the corrective discipline of the librarian to hold me accountable.

If summer wasn’t restful for you either, start here. If you’re unpacking countless memories, scrolling through vacation pictures with deep gratitude yet still feel exhausted, I see you. If you have no complaints yet find yourself longing to find a space to process, pull up a chair.

Whatever corner you find yourself in today, take a moment to pause and ponder with me. Consider these truths and allow them to usher you into “quiet heart” mode.

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)

1. Remember God is alive. God is not only alive, but His presence is among us as we invite Him into our days, worries, and next tasks. Oh, how my heart longs to tell my mind to calm down and to stop trying to control, solve and fix it all. I know I can’t but sadly that doesn’t mean I don’t try. Because I believe in a living God who is alive and near, this reminder invites me into a deep, long exhale.

Release.

2. Trust that God is a mighty Savior. Not only is God alive, which means He sees you and hears your desperate prayers, but He alone is also the One who can save and redeem, rescue and protect. Unlike you and I, He is not a God who lacks strength for every circumstance. I am weak. He is mighty. Anything He sets His mind, will, and favor upon will result in victory.

Trust.

3. Accept the fact that God delights in you. He watches over you and knows your weaknesses yet delights in blessing you with talents and gifts. God is not standing over you waiting for you to mess up or to point out your failures again. On the contrary, He is glad to be in a relationship with you and to spend time with you. So, as you seek out ways to spend your time and resources wisely, know He delights in you.

Accept.

4. His perfect love is the only thing that can calm fear. I’ll be honest. There are some areas of my life right now that feel downright frightening when I think about the future. I worry about my children and what they need, doubting that I really possess the wisdom to parent them well. I worry about decisions that need to be made and wondering if I’ll make the wrong one. I worry about my health and my body and changes that are out of my control. Yet, the God of the universe loves you and I and His perfect love is the only love that has the power to cast out fear. (I John 4:18) Pray for God to tangibly quiet you by his love.

Rest.

5. Worship is warfare. Worship has become a coveted daily practice for my spiritual life. My morning soundtrack is filled with worship songs while my afternoon includes a bit of hype to keep me going through dinner and bedtime routines. I love the reminder that God sings over you and me. His steady voice of truth anchors us through worship and time in His Word, while his unconditional love flows as a melody to guide us throughout the day. What joy!

Sing.

In your quest for quiet, try noise-cancelling headphones, yes and amen. But also, consider inviting silence to accompany you in the car more often. Work at a library rather than your favorite coffee shop to lessen the periphery noise. Choose a book before another Netflix episode. Decrease the number of times you pick up your phone to check who is there. Speak slower and more softly, listen more, and speed less. (Preaching to myself!)

Then watch as these smaller rhythms day-to-day help quiet the noise around you. Trust. Accept. Rest. Sing.

All the while let us not forget to meditate on the calming, re-centering, grounding love of God. (And help keep each other accountable.)

My prayer is that out of His love, we are empowered to live a little quieter— away from constant anxiety, yet increasingly confident that God is alive, working, and even singing over us with a divine smile of delight.

Selah.

Witnessing God in Guatemala

Shawna Sullivan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:58:40 GMT

Our mission team of 30+ teenagers and adults followed closely behind the pastor of the local church in a messy single-filed line. No one knew where he was headed or where we would stop, so we followed blindly with food bags in hand, each measured for at least a month’s worth of nourishment for the families in this remote village. Our eyes frequently gla…

What If It All Works Out?

Shawna Sullivan — Sat, 09 May 2026 13:39:54 GMT

The tightness in my chest constricts, distracting me amid daily life. After several emergency room visits over the last few years, a visit to the cardiologist, a stress test, calcium test, and other heart monitoring assessments, I have been assured that my heart is healthy for now. I still wonder and will continue to keep a close watch, yet I’ve had to …

Prescribed Burns, Renewed Vigor and a Birthday

Shawna Sullivan — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:36:05 GMT

Our 4am flight allowed for bonus time before checking into the Air BnB. Because this year felt most challenging, our last-minute anniversary trip felt most rewarding. Arizona had not been on my radar, but my husband surprised me with an all-details planned trip to commemorate our commitment and journey together.

Always a gift, yet always a battle to get …

Who He Is When We Need Him Most

Shawna Sullivan — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:41:11 GMT

I’ve read it a million times, especially during the holiday season, yet this year it hits differently. Deeply. Profoundly. The names of God, one by one, as listed in Isaiah 9 provide a framework for my gratitude and wonder this season.

An Unlikely Thanksgiving

Shawna Sullivan — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 22:20:05 GMT

A difficult year.

Job loss.

Unexpected goodbyes.

Launching a child.

Unsteady footing.

Unwavering demands.

Continual caretaking.

Broken appliances.

Unrelenting uneasiness.

Heartbreaking news headlines.

Tighter finances.

Unexpected illnesses.

As I write, one phrase continues coming to mind this month: an unlikely Thanksgiving. I’m discovering in deeper ways that the…

A Parachute for Your Soul

Shawna Sullivan — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 02:00:35 GMT

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,

and to him w…

The Main Things

Shawna Sullivan — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 01:52:09 GMT

I sat listening, keenly aware this was that moment: the one where after you’re gone, I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. Little did I know you would be gone for good just two days later.

You looked at me with tearful eyes and shared the kindest encouragement related to my ministry. You named areas that you so closely relate to and have championed i…

Hikes, Games & Journals

Shawna Sullivan — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 19:43:53 GMT

I hesitated to bring my children to the funeral. Just weeks earlier, my college friend lost her 18-year-old son in a tragic accident. While I couldn't fathom not attending the service, nothing about this was easy for anyone.

The four of us filed into the pew near the back of the church. Sitting next to my 18-year-old daughter, the connection was undeniab…

When You Can't Keep Happy Going

Shawna Sullivan — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:44:32 GMT

Countless griefs press into my chest, causing me to regularly take deep breaths as a reminder that I can. In every direction there are degrees of hardship, both in my life and in the lives of those around me. Though it’s summer, I stopped this week and admitted to myself: I simply cannot keep happy going. My heart is sad.

5 Refreshing Ways to Recharge—No Vacation Required

Shawna Sullivan — Thu, 29 May 2025 11:03:20 GMT

You know how it is: the anticipation of the trip you've been planning for months only to feel more exhausted upon your return. When will rest come?

Or maybe you're like me and actually don't have a trip planned for a while, so you're wrestling with weariness at what has been a most challenging season with no end in sight.

Why Not?

Shawna Sullivan — Wed, 14 May 2025 16:26:31 GMT

The noise level along the motherhood journey is incredibly loud. Voices that influence anything from ideal wardrobes to effective sleep routines to optimized nutrition plans rise in cacophony along every age and stage. I wish I could testify that opinions quiet as your children prepare to launch, but that is not true. In fact, I would argue they are dea…

Songs in the Dark

Shawna Sullivan — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:20:29 GMT

Life presently feels like night has fallen. I’m feeling my way to the open door, adjusting my steps according to obstacles in the way, all while searching for the crack of light to point me toward the exit. I’m not sure where this chapter of our story will end quite yet, but I’m eagerly hopeful that good awaits on the other side.

The dark is not always s…

What is God's glory worth?

Shawna Sullivan — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:30:24 GMT

As a Christ follower, I say it, pray it, and hear it—that all things happen for God’s glory and our good. Anything from finding that front row parking spot to offering an act of generosity. Of course, the platitude stretches into the painful happenings of life as well. Like, when your child doesn’t make the team, or you experience an unexpected injury. …

Coming soon

Shawna Sullivan — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:30:47 GMT

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