Faithful to What’s Right in Front of me: Presence for a Homemaking Mom in a Distracted World
In the midst of all the terrifying, controversial, and constantly shifting news surrounding us day after day, are you ever too pulled in or too invested in an outcome. Even to the point of feeling overwhelmed or frozen with fear at the idea of you not being prepared to handle it all? The overwhelm is real but the threats are not always real and immediate. We were never meant to hold it all.
So if all of that is TOO MUCH, how much is just enough? What truly matters?
If the phones and screens weren’t constantly pulling our attention toward distant problems, mindless entertainment, and endless information, what would still be here? What would be the MOST important thing?
What’s right in front of you!
A child needing help.
A kitchen ready to be used.
A husband who could use a hug.
A skill that needs your time and focus.
A home that doesn’t need perfection—just your presence.
Remaining present in each moment puts you in the place where the spirit of God resides—where you can truly begin to experience His peace. The more we remember and practice having faith in each moment, God will meet us.
“Do not be anxious about anything… And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6–7
The wonderful but difficult truth is: we can return to this peace at any time, over and over again, we just need to be intentional about doing so.
God wants us to make the conscious effort to meet Him there—At the crossroads of faith (trust) and peace.
What the Bible Teaches About Presence and Trust
Scripture consistently points us back to the present. Let’s look at the story of Martha and Mary.
When Jesus came to their home, Martha stayed busy with good and necessary work. But her attention became so divided that she grew anxious and frustrated. Jesus gently corrected her, not because her work didn’t matter, but because she had become so distracted by the multitude of things to do while missing the nearness of the Lord Himself.
Mary, on the other hand, chose to sit and remain attentive. Jesus said she had chosen “what is better,” reminding us that even important homemaking tasks can pull our hearts and minds away from choosing presence. (Luke 10:38–42)
The good work will always be there—but moments of attentiveness, peace, and communion with God can slip past us if we don’t pause to rest in Him.
This doesn’t mean we abandon our duties and responsibilities. We should instead aim to be servants of grace, peace and patience. Leave out the hurry, worry, and frustration as often as possible and return to what truly matters, especially when we feel overwhelmed and scattered.
Simple Ways to Practice Presence in Homemaking
These aren’t meant to be done perfectly or all at once. Think of them as small ways to return—again and again—to what’s right in front of you.
Pause and breathe.
Take a few natural, deep breaths—one at a time—and notice your breath as long as you can without pressure. Even doing this briefly throughout the day can help bring you back into your body and into the present moment.
Give your days a loose shape.
As best you can, plan your days and segments of your day, ahead of time. Best to keep it simple and consistent. Use repetition, rhythm, or routines to your benefit. When the day has no shape or loose form to follow, it tends to drag us along, instead of us taking the reigns. I’ve noticed I reach for my phone far more often when I have no idea what lies ahead in my day.
Trade screens for something.
Put the phone down and pick up something real—a book, a photo album, a craft, an instrument, or step outside. Screens are one of the biggest drains on our focus, and without focus it’s difficult to stay tethered to the present moment long enough to appreciate it.
Do one ordinary task without rushing.
Not the whole house. Not the whole list. Just one thing—washing dishes, folding laundry, sweeping the floor. Let it be enough to do that one task with care, right where you are.
Have faith.
Faith is trust. It’s remembering that not everything is for you to know right now, and not everything is for you to do today. James 4:13–15 — “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow… Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” For God-fearing mothers, finding peace at home shouldn’t come from doing more or having more control, but instead from being faithfully present. Having faith pulls us back into each moment God has already gifted to us. He’s wrapped this gift in peace and presence, we just have to accept it daily.
A Free Printable to Keep You in the Present
My above list include the simple kinds of reminders that are easy to forget when the day gets loud. I understand staying present (and keeping your heart and mind set apart from the world stage) is not the easiest thing to do and that’s why I created a simple, free one-page printable—as a quick way to return your whole spirit, heart, and mind back to your home when it all feels a bit too scattered
Grounding truth at the top of the printable:
“I DON’T HAVE TO CARRY EVERYTHING.
I CAN REST IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, HERE AND NOW.”
The printable echoes the list above so that, in the moments of overwhelm, you don’t have to think. You just read, breathe, and return.
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