How to keep calm when life feels anything but
Friend, I’ll be honest—some days in the kitchen feel like pure chaos. My son and I recently did a pop-up lunch, and let me tell you, the orders came in fast. At times, it was tough just to keep them all straight. We were constantly moving for four straight hours, barely catching our breath between orders. And when it was all over? We still had to clean the kitchen for the next food entrepreneur. My body was exhausted, but my mind was racing. Ever been there? Maybe not in a kitchen, but in the middle of life’s demands—where everything comes at you at once, and the thought of keeping calm feels impossible.
And honestly, friend, it’s not just our personal lives that feel overwhelming. The world itself seems to be unraveling. Every time we turn on the news, there's another crisis—wars, economic uncertainty, natural disasters, and a deepening divide among people. Fear whispers, What’s next? and our hearts grow weary from the weight of it all.
But I’ve learned that when life is anything but calm—whether in my own kitchen or in the world around me—I have two choices: I can let stress and fear take over, or I can lean into the peace that only God provides. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Friend, that kind of peace isn’t just for quiet mornings with a cup of coffee and an open Bible. It’s for the middle of the storm—for the kitchen rush, the unexpected phone call, the headlines that leave us unsettled. God’s peace doesn’t come when everything slows down; it comes when we surrender control, even in the chaos.
So what helps when everything feels overwhelming? Here are a few things that work for me:
1. Pause and Take a Breath
When the pressure is building, sometimes the best thing you can do is stop for just a moment. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you don’t have to have everything figured out right now. A simple pause can help reset your mind and emotions.
2. Shift Your Focus
It’s easy to get caught up in what’s going wrong or what feels out of control. Instead, I try to focus on what I do know—God is still steady, even when life isn’t. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You." Even when things feel uncertain, shifting my focus to that truth helps keep me grounded.
3. Let Go of the Pressure to Have It All Together
Not every order in the kitchen comes out perfectly, and not every situation in life goes as planned. That’s okay. Instead of holding onto the stress of trying to control everything, I remind myself that I don’t have to carry it all. Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Letting go of the things I can’t fix on my own makes room for peace.
Life won’t always slow down, and the world won’t suddenly become peaceful, but our souls don’t have to match the chaos around us. Next time the pressure builds—whether it’s personal stress or world events—take a breath, say a prayer, and trust that the same God who calmed the storm can calm your heart too.
You’ve got this, friend. But even better—God’s got you.
Want to Stay Informed Without the Overwhelm?
If you’re looking for a way to stay updated on current events without the anxiety that often comes with the news, check out The Pour Over. It’s a free daily newsletter that delivers the biggest headlines paired with brief Christian perspectives to help you stay informed while keeping your focus on Christ. You can sign up here: The Pour Over.
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Regina is a writer, homeschooling mom, and owner of a soul food catering business. She is the host of the Pray to Play podcast, where she shares practical tips and heartfelt advice for parents navigating the busy world of athletics. A contributor to several publications, including Tracie Miles' Living Unbroken book study, she is also an advocate for young adults with developmental disabilities and serves on the Compel Pro volunteer leadership team. Living in Ohio with her family, she designs Squarespace websites for fellow creatives and spends her free time cheering her sons from the sidelines or sipping tea while chatting about God’s goodness with women.
