Dear friend: What if you’re on the verge of a breakthrough?

The last few years have been a struggle, to say the least. You’ve found yourself hardly able to keep up with life’s changes, losses, and grief in your varying circumstances. Not to mention you’ve allowed the heaviness of the world to weigh you down.

Today, you notice the darkness lifting and you’re seeing small cracks of light again. You feel the warmth on your face, the smell of fresh-brewed coffee, and tightly embrace your son’s neck before school. You even caught yourself laughing at something silly again.

You feel a change in the tide. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know God is telling you to keep going forward- don’t get stuck in your past. He’s revealing it to you through people, songs, your kids, and opportunities. You can’t ignore it.

The other day I watched the waves on the gulf coast more intently than I normally do. Just as they reached their peak, in a matter of seconds they fell crashing onto the shore – steaming and bubbling. I was entranced waiting for the next round to roll in.

We all fall and crash at some point like the waves of the sea. We can’t stay on top forever. And these last few years have taught us more than those peaks ever could. The difficult, painful, gut-wrenching times have stretched and pulled our faith muscles like nothing else. The trials have caused us to doubt and question everything we are, everything our friends are, and even who God is.

The darkness has also taught us the beauty of time and being thankful for what’s most important in our lives. We’ve learned God is still good when life is not.

Yes, my friend, you’ve endured a lot, but what if now’s the time for your breakthrough? What if now’s the time to really start living again and not striving so hard to please others? What if now’s the time to take the next step toward your future? What if now’s the time to surrender everything and let Jesus heal you?

Don’t ignore the signs. Your breakthrough is now.

Love,

Samantha

Samantha Krieger is wife to Jeremiah and mama to 2 boys & 2 girls- 13 and under. She loves iced coffee, TJ Maxx, and mascara. She’s the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her work has been featured on the Today Show online, For the Family, Love What Matters, and Cafe Mom. She writes from Florida’s gulf coast and enjoys connecting with readers on her personal blog, Facebook and Instagram.

Anxious about your future? Just do your next right thing for today.

Tomorrow. The future. 2 weeks from now. One day from today. 3 years from now…

Often, my head is spinning when I think about the future, the what if’s, and the worries. And if you ask me, pondering all those unknowns can be debilitating. It steals my joy in the present. It tempts me to think I’m the queen of my future and it’s never wise to make those predictions.

Truth is, I’m called to live in today as Jesus said, “Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Sure, it’s wise to plan. I love to plan but I have to be willing to let my plans get interrupted, changed, or flipped upside down.

Truth is, there’s no way in the world to make calculated predictions and decide for ourselves what life will look like months from now. Many times, all that’s required of us is to just take the next step. To do the next right thing that’s exactly in front of us.

So what does that mean for you?

Maybe it’s scheduling the counseling appointment you know you and your spouse really need.

Maybe it’s applying for a ministry or job in the community God has put you in.

Maybe’s it’s pursuing unity in a relationship by texting or calling to meet with a friend.

Maybe it’s inviting others into your home and building the community you desperately desire.

Maybe it’s simply enjoying the stage your kids are at right now – not where they’ll be next year.

Your next right thing won’t be what your neighbor or friend’s next best thing is. It’s unique to you. It’s about where God has put you right now.

Jesus promises to take care of your every need. He clothes the grass. He feeds the birds. He grows the lilies. How much more will he cover all your needs and then some? (Matt. 6:28)

I’m preaching to myself today as I look at soaring gas prices and make various decisions for the coming months. I preach to myself knowing I’m a very anxious soul without the help and empowerment of Jesus – each and every day.

But I know Jesus says tenderly to you and me:

Don’t be anxious about your future. Seek his kingdom and all those things will be given to you. Enjoy the gift that is called today. This world needs you right where you’ve been placed.

Love,

Samantha

Samantha Krieger is wife to Jeremiah and mama to 2 boys & 2 girls- 13 and under. She loves iced coffee, TJ Maxx, and mascara. She’s the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her work has been featured on the Today Show online, Love What Matters, and Cafe Mom. She writes from Florida’s gulf coast and enjoys connecting with readers on her personal blog, Facebook and Instagram.

I’m not a good Mom – that’s why I need the Gospel

Yesterday, I met my friend Crystal for iced Boba tea (without the Boba – haha). She brought her 2-year-old daughter on our date and we talked about the struggles of motherhood and parenting.

“There’s no manual for it…” she said.

I nodded my head and shared my stories of survival when the kids were 5 and under. “I was just trying to keep them alive,” I told her.

Flashbacks of potty training, temper tantrums, sleepless nights, and wearing my old maternity pants all year ran through my mind. I told her my recent challenges with my 13-year-old now being the oldest. The challenges are different, but they still loom. Oh, do they exist!

Sometimes, I’ll sleep 8 hours and still wake up with bags under my eyes and a caffeinated cup of coffee doesn’t help the drag. The sibling rivalry and competition are through the roof. Arguing and challenging my authority is difficult. And the sass with girls? Don’t get me started. I told my husband last night I was taking a time-out.

Mornings don’t always look like me sitting down with coffee and reading my Bible. Some days do, but most days it looks more like me playing drill sergeant and putting out emotional, hormonal fires before going to school. It looks like disciplining name-calling and making sure lunches aren’t left on the countertop.

Every season in mamahood from infancy, toddler-hood, to teenage days has its highs and lows, mountaintops and valleys, blessings and disappointments. There’s no arrival where it’s bliss. Don’t get me wrong, God does give those days that can feel like heaven, but those are rare.

Every mama also has seasons when a child gives her greater challenges and it can feel like she’s parenting 5 children instead of 1.

Motherhood has shown me my sin as nothing else has. It’s revealed my desperate need for the gospel. In my weakness and brokenness, I need rescuing. I need my Savior. I simply cannot be the kind of mom I desire to be in my own will-power.

I don’t have a guide or a book that can fix all my broken pieces but I have His word – the only Guide I’ll ever need in life.

I fall short every, single day and He picks me back up again. I sin every single day and his mercy is new as the sunrise. I’m not a good mom, but his grace makes me able to be who I otherwise could not be on my own. I’m a broken mama attempting to make something beautiful in parenting, but in order for that to happen, I need his Healing power.

Crystal said there was no manual for motherhood, so she asked her aunt whose kids are grown for counsel and guidance. And I loved that. We need mamas who’ve journeyed ahead of us and get it. We need family and friends to fall back on for support. We need to be okay with calling or texting the appropriate reinforcements.

Never forget – it’s not weak to admit you need help – it’s actually incredibly brave. And it’s okay to admit you just need Jesus.

Love,

Samantha

Samantha Krieger is wife to Jeremiah and mama to 2 boys & 2 girls- 13 and under. She loves iced coffee, TJ Maxx, and mascara. She’s the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her work has been featured on the Today Show online, Love What Matters, and Cafe Mom. She writes from Florida’s gulf coast and enjoys connecting with readers on her personal blog, Facebook and Instagram.

Yes, you want to give them the world this Christmas, but what if they already have it?

Brown boxes are arriving on our doorstep and I’m constantly calculating numbers in my head to make sure we’ve been fair in executing the operation of organizing the kids’ gifts. Miraculously, we had a budget this year for each child this Christmas and a savings account. This is our first time ever doing that.

Last year, we had a small meltdown from one who didn’t feel they had enough presents to open compared to the others. As you know, kids get older and the value of the gifts shift. Some look large and are inexpensive. Some are small and enormously expensive. So this feeling of anxiety overwhelms me at times.

Are we giving them what they need and not spoiling them? Is it all enough? Will they know how loved they are when they walk down the stairs on Christmas morning? Will they experience the warmth and magic that we did as a child?

Of course, they will. They already have. It’s not just about the experience on Christmas morning – the gifts they receive or the feelings we’re anticipating and sometimes forcing ourselves to feel.

All throughout the year as a mama, you have given of yourself. You have sacrificed everything for the sake of your children. You have shed tears over their disobedience, hauled them around like a time-crunched uber driver, played nurse through sickness, endured sleepless nights and so much more.

So maybe right now, you’re worn out from Christmas musicals, gift exchanges, and you’re coming down from that sugar cookie high. Maybe you’re not even yourself. One morning just doesn’t cover it all in your love for your kids. You’ve been showing them your love day after day, night after night, every second and every hour.

When you’re not with them, you’re praying for them.

So what if there’s whining and complaining from one or two or three on Christmas day? It’s okay. Yep, it’s totally ok. If there’s fighting and sibling rivalry and you forgot to purchase batteries for the remote control car that won’t get used next week? It’s ok. If you didn’t get the gift they wanted? That’s ok too.

Release the pressure to be all and do all for your kids. You can never lift up to that expectation. You are already loved as their mama. The greatest gift you can give them is not a toy, electronic, or new bike. All those things are fun and great. I love the reaction to a surprise gift! But the best gift they will ever open is accepting the gift of God sending his son Jesus into the world to save them from their sin – from their selfishness. And He has already given each of us the greatest gift we could ever receive.

I know this is a constant reminder in your home when Santa, wrapped presents, candy canes, and stockings seem more exciting.

I pray your Christmas day is everything you want it to be and more. I hope you know that you’ll never be disappointed in letting Jesus take the “not enough” and even broken and hurting parts of your mama heart this season. We’re all in this together.

You are so loved,

Samantha

For the woman finishing a difficult week: 4 simple truths to provide relief.

This week was unusually trying. We were up several times with our adorable St. Bernard who is too cute to get mad at. My daughter came down with a cold and generously passed it on to me. My husband and I just couldn’t wake up feeling refreshed. It was struggle after struggle.

I also dealt with heavy anxiety about my kids going to brand new schools in a matter of weeks. I was also difficult to be around as a wife and mom from not feeling well.

So this morning, I prayed for relief. That God would carry these heavy burdens. Sometimes, I’m far too tempted to not hand them over to Jesus and instead try to manage. (And that never works out well). Maybe you’ve been there.

Chances are good, you’re carrying heavy weights too. Maybe you’re dealing with a rebellious child, exhausted days and nights, a difficult husband, a loved one’s sickness, an unresolved conflict, comparing yourself to another friend’s perfect life, you’re overworked, and more.

Life is just heavy at times. It’s messy, and God knows the brokenness we feel and the desire for it all to be put back together again. Here are 4 truths we can remember for today:

1.) God is with you in these fiery trials.

Scripture calls trials “fiery” for a reason. While they seem permanent, they’re only temporary. He has the power to carry you through them and bring you to the other side. Even when you can’t see the light ahead, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Trust him to walk you through it and cast all your burdens to him to deal with.

2.) Sharing your story with a friend brings healing.

It’s far too easy to isolate in our struggles. I’d much rather tell a friend how great I’m doing instead of being raw. Don’t be afraid to call or text and share with her what’s really going on. She’ll be honored to know how she can better pray for you. Allow her to carry some of the burden – that’s what friends are for. Allow her to speak truth into your situation and encourage you in Scripture. Stepping out of isolation will lead to your healing.

3.) Getting extra rest and sleep does wonders.

Often times, depression is a result of exhaustion. I’ve been there one too many times than I’d like to admit. Sometimes we’re unable to handle life because we’re overtired and have reached our absolute max.

Count how many hours of sleep you’re getting. Go to bed earlier or carve out time for a nap. Rest for you may mean unplugging and being in nature or stepping away from your house. It’s amazing the relief you can find physically, emotionally, and spiritually by prioritizing your rest and Sabbath. And don’t worry, even if you stop, the world will still keep going.

4.) Giving yourself grace is life-giving.

At the end of a tough week, it’s easy to beat yourself up: “I should have done this… I failed at this… I didn’t measure up… I’m not enough..” and the list goes on. More than anything right now, you need grace. Grace for yourself. Grace for others. Grace for your family life. You can’t do it all. You were never meant to. There’s only one person who can do that.

Rest in that grace this weekend even when you’re tempted to be “productive” again to prove something. You don’t have to earn anything. You are so loved. You are valuable. Your work is worthy. You aren’t defined by what you do.

I pray you’ll find the relief you desperately need that is found in Christ. This is my prayer, too, coming out of a crazy week. May he be your joy, satisfaction, rest, and more as you hand over your burdens and experience his healing touch on your life.

Love,

Samantha

Samantha Krieger is a wife and mom to 4 kids, 12 and under. She’s the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her writing appears regularly on Her View From Home, TODAY Parenting, and For the Family. Connect with her on Instagramand Facebook.

Allow Yourself to Grieve

Allow yourself to grieve. These were the words a friend sent me recently. She has traveled this life longer than me and shared a lot of wisdom my heart needed.

The last year has been full of losses for our family. Stepping down from full time ministry, losing our dog, losing friendships and relationships through a huge move, losing a community we loved, and more. My husband candidated with churches for a year and God did not open a door – even with the church we were so close to being led to and loved deeply.

Loss upon loss. It’s all been so heavy.

We’ve shed our tears and are still working through the pain. We don’t know what God is doing and at times we feel lost. It has led us to question who we really are in Christ. It is teaching us not to become bitter but to instead grow and receive His love.

Yet, we know we are in fact, not lost at all. God knows what he’s doing when we don’t. Jesus has been and will continue to be with us through the hurt. He is already showing himself to us in our new home in amazing ways. But it can still be hard.

Grief is so weird. One day you’re fine and the next you struggle. But one thing I know for sure, as my friend reminded me, I need to allow myself to grieve. I know God isn’t done with our story yet.

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Fresh Starts, Willing Hearts – Family Adventures on Florida’s Gulf Coast

One day, I’m driving down the open plains of NE Colorado and the next I’m swimming in the gulf coast beaches of Florida. Our family relocated from Colorado to Florida a few weeks ago. Talk about a landscape change. Life certainly is an adventure!

We’re getting settled in our new area and it is definitely not small town living, but there are certainly other amenities like over-sized honey crisp apples at the grocery, turquoise water beaches, pools in almost every neighborhood, lots of people, restaurants, traffic, a tropical climate, and more.

We found a rural area to live in outside of the hustle and bustle.

Will said the other day, “Mom, we won’t have winters anymore.” I have to admit, I’m excited we can be outdoors more during the year.

As my friend Anna said, “You’re trading in snowsuits for swimsuits.”

New seasons are exciting, but they can also be intimidating. As a mom, I’m starting over in friendships and finding a place to deeply connect. That can certainly be nerve-wrecking but yesterday while driving to run errands, Jeremiah said, “We haven’t even reached the best part yet. This is just the beginning.”

He’s right. I just want everything to happen now.

It’s only been a few days in our new place. It takes time to get situated and find the pots and pans. It’s normal to miss old friends and think about the past. It’s typical to be exhausted and a little emotionally unstable. 🙂

I want to have a willing heart in this new adventure. A willingness to embrace the unfamiliar and anticipate what new things God will do in our family here.

Change is never easy, but I’d never mature and grow without it. Change is actually to my benefit even if it hurts a little. I’m jumping out of the boat of comfort and into the unexplored waters of faith and reliance upon my Savior.

In whatever season you’re in today, don’t forget that it’s okay to feel uncomfortable. It’s okay to feel a little lost. Even if it hurts a little, God is doing a work in you – shaping and molding you. Changing you for the good.

We’re all trying to find our way. We’re all looking to connect more deeply with others and in the unique home God has given us. He knows the desires of our hearts. He knows your every need.

With Love,

Samantha

Dear Daughter, Your Servant Heart is so Beautiful

Recent published work on Her View From Home

We were cooking in the kitchen the other day and daddy said, “Man, I’m thirsty.” Without saying a word, you walked over to the fridge and dispensed the ice and water into a stainless steel cup for him.

“Here you go, daddy,” you handed over the cup smiling. It made his day that you thought of him.

When I was a substitute teacher at your school last week, I saw how you helped your classmate with a math problem and included friends from all backgrounds on the playground. At lunch, you listened as your friends shared stories and your laughter brightened my day.

Your selfless love for others inspires me to be a better wife, mom, and friend. Putting others first doesn’t always come natural for any of us.

The way you care for your pets and feed the animals shows responsibility, compassion, and careful attention to them. You love them unconditionally just as they love you. You share them with others so they can experience the joy of those furry creatures too.

This world will tell you beauty and worth is found in long eyelashes, full lips, a flawless face, the number in your bank account, who you’re friends with, which designer brands you wear, and more. But it goes deeper than that.

Selfless love for others is what makes a young woman so incredibly attractive. A considerate young woman shows …

** Continue Reading over on Her View From Home

I’m thankful for a God Who Knows What He’s Doing

A letter to God – written recently for Her View From Home

Dear God, I’m weary in the waiting, but you know exactly what you’re doing.

Right now, my husband and I need you to show us what’s next. I know your plan is always right and good, but I’m growing weary in this waiting period.

Close family and friends are asking, “What’s next?” Their words are the exact echo of my heart. Sometimes it’s difficult responding, “We’re still in the process,” because I like answers now. But often, you don’t work on my timetable.

I’m anticipating the next place we can put down roots and start fresh. We’ve been interviewing, praying, sitting in silence, interviewing more, flying to new places, and meeting new people. It’s been exciting and exhausting.

We’ve only heard no through every door we’ve encountered so far, and we believe you don’t want us to settle. We’re waiting for your yes, the precious place and people who you have prepared for us.

Right now, I need strength and perseverance to trust you with the nos. Hope to press on toward your yes.

I know real strength and power come from your hands. I trust you to provide a 2021 miracle. I know many people are asking the same.

Please keep my marriage strong under the weight of these pressures. Show my children they’re loved even when our situation feels unstable and unsettling. Give us moments of encouragement and laughter when it’s frustrating. Help me to smile in the suffering and work with my husband, and not against him.

I’m so thankful you know… ** Continue Reading over on Her View From Home.

Dear Son: Here’s what Daddy is really building when he uses his hands

We stood in the barn the other day and daddy was building handcrafted tables for a friend’s living room. With each stroke of the brush, you watched his hands moving back and forth.

“That smells so good!” you exclaimed as he varnished the wood. Soon enough, you asked for the brush.

You see, daddy uses his hands to provide for our family so you can have your chocolate milk, extra cheesy goldfish, spaghetti and meatballs, trains, clothes, and a warm room to sleep in every night. He works hard to give you a full life.

Often, his labor results in bruises and cuts and you run to the house and grab the Star Wars bandages. After a long day, sometimes daddy goes to bed shortly after you. He knows that the good things you get to enjoy don’t magically fall from the sky.

When daddy’s out in the barn, he’s using his gifts and making our town a better place. He’s providing a side table for a mama to set her coffee mug down while she kicks up her worn feet in the chair. He’s creating a farm table for gatherings so people can draw closer to one another and connect. He’s making shelves to help someone’s life become less chaotic and more organized. He’s providing a rustic entryway piece to rest a picture frame on that keeps a loved one’s memory alive.

Daddy places your little hands above his when using the mitre saw and lets you measure the different boards and pieces. He finds joy knowing one day you’ll have the necessary training and tools to help your future family and make a difference in your sphere of influence. Above all, he loves teaching you about Jesus and helping you grow.

He’s helping build bridges in the lives of others- not barriers. And one day, son, I believe you’ll do the same. No matter what kind of work you choose to do, my prayer is you’ll be a man who leaves the world better than you found it, who’ll use your gifts to be a builder.

Build relationships within the family God gives you. Build in a way that’ll help others find rest, connect more deeply, and treasure the relationships in their lives.

I love you so much,

Mama

Samantha Krieger is a pastor’s wife and mom to 4. She is the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her writing has appeared on The Today Show, Her View from Home, Cafe Mom, and Love What Matters. You can follow her work on Instagram and Facebook.