😮‍💨 Exhausted But Called: The Secret to Peace in a Chaotic Life

I’m a fast-paced SoCal girl at heart—grew up where you could snowboard in the morning and hit the beach by sunset. 🏔️🌊

So now, as a working mom in ministry with three lively boys, mornings can be a whirlwind. I juggle prayer, breakfast, laundry, the to-do list, family devotions, hair, lunch prep, and sneaking in snuggles—sometimes all before 7 AM!

You feel me? 🙋🏼‍♀️

Sometimes it feels like life tagged you “IT” and everything’s zooming by like it’s caffeinated and doesn’t believe in timeouts. ☕🐿️

You're bouncing from one thing to the next, just trying to breathe between the pinging phones, school projects, and mental to-do lists that never quit. 😩📲

And peace? It can start to feel like this mysterious thing for monks and Pinterest moms... not exhausted, multitasking women with baby food on their jeans and a Zoom call in 10.

But Jesus doesn’t wait for your calendar to clear. He’s offering peace right in the middle of the crazy. 💥

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Jesus in Matthew 11:28

That’s not poetic fluff spoken to people who couldn't relate. It’s a holy strategy we are designed for and it's actually incredibly practical.

Jesus isn’t asking you to quit everything and live off-grid—He’s calling you to walk with Him in such a way that your soul stops spinning, even when your schedule doesn’t.

Peace in a chaotic life feels like taking an escalator in the busiest hub, rising smoothly above the noise and into that serene, wider view. 🛗

I know, I know... But how? And we'll get there. 👇🏼

✨ Peace That Doesn’t Make Sense (And That’s the Point)

Back in the Roman Empire, “peace” was a political selling point—Pax Romana, they called it. But let’s be real: it was peace by pressure. Order on the outside, fear and chaos underneath.

Then Jesus showed up.

He absolutely cared about people’s real, physical needs. He healed bodies, fed crowds, restored dignity. But He was always aiming deeper—calling people to wholeness. Not just temporary relief. Real restoration.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” — Jesus in John 14:27

That’s shalom—nothing missing, nothing broken, everything aligned with heaven.

Peace that doesn’t depend on external conditions, but absolutely has the power to shift them.

Peace that isn’t about escaping—but about rising.

Still, it didn’t look the way people expected.

When Jesus fed the 5,000, the crowd loved it. Miracles, free food, stress handled? Sign us up. 🙌🏼 They were ready to crown Him king on the spot. Basically: “Jesus, can You fix the system, run the government, and handle dinner too?” 😂

But Jesus didn’t just come to hand them a fish—He was teaching them how to fish. (Cue Peter. 🐟)

He came to rule from the inside out.

Because real peace doesn’t only fix your schedule or quiet your inbox. It anchors your soul, restores your perspective, and transforms how you walk through the storm.

And here’s what I love:

🕊️ Sometimes He calms the storm. 🔥 Sometimes He walks with you right on top of it.

It’s not “just breathe and pretend.” It's not just to help you survive the week. His bold, joy-filled, soul-deep peace helps you thrive with clarity, courage, and holy rest right in the middle of it.

💡 Here’s the thing I’ve had to learn again and again:

Peace isn't a day on the calendar or the checked-off list (cause items always be rollin' oveeerrrrrr to the next day). It doesn’t start with a nap or a new planner.

It starts right here, right now—with Jesus and real trust. With turning toward Him in the middle of the chaos and saying,“You’re here. I’m listening. Lead me.”

From there? Yeah—take the walk. Journal the gratitude. Go to bed early. But don’t confuse relief with restoration. Netflix might give you a short-lived break (more of a crash). But Jesus gives you mind-blowing peace. ☁️

When I connect with Him first, I can actually discern what kind of rest I need. Do I need to play? Stop scrolling? Take something off my plate? Have a hard conversation? Or just sit in His presence and cry?

When my peace flows from God, not just my circumstances, I stop chasing comfort and start walking in wisdom. And that, in turn, changes my circumstances. 🙌🏼 "Seek first the kingdom"... and you get everything else.

🚀 How Do You Actually Step Into Peace?

By tuning into the rhythm of heaven in small, holy ways.

Here’s what that can look like (in as little as one minute):

📖 Soak in Jesus' words — let them reshape your perspective and grow your faith

🙏 Talk with God like He's your best friend—share it all, the ups and the downs

🎉 Play joyfully — Playful fun isn't extra. It's soul food & part of being whole!

📝 Write what you're grateful for — It retrains your brain to spot God’s goodness

🕊️ Forgive and let go — validate your pain and let Jesus carry it for you

👭 Connect with trusted community — they're your support, wise counsel, & cheer squad

🌳 Get outside — let the fresh air do its magic

🧼 Simplify and declutter — it's freeing for your mind and space

💪🏽 Move your body — it supports everything else you do

🎨 Create something — Beauty stirs hope. Creativity heals

💡 Learn something — Hobbies and books spark curiosity and exploration

✨ Scatter kindness like confetti — it’s rewarding and uplifting

🧠 When emotions spike—pause. Ask Jesus: “What do You want me to know?"

❤️ See people. Real peace sees, listens, empathizes, and loves well.

✋🏽 Place your hand on your heart. Whisper, “Jesus, You’re here. I’m listening. Lead me.” Let His presence reset your atmosphere.

So... ready to step onto that escalator of peace in a chaotic life? ↗️

Jesus is your escalator in the middle of the chaos. He lifts you above the noise—not to escape your life, but to anchor you in His.

So let’s rise! Let’s breathe. Let’s walk in that wild, unshakable peace He already bought for us.

Going up? 🎈 Yeeessssss.

With grace, grit, and a whole lotta peace,

Kelsi