STXWM Blog

This past June, my husband and I bought our very first home. We prayed, begged, and believed God for this house. When He opened the door, we were thrilled. Answered prayer. Big blessing. Dream come true.

And then reality hit.

Week one, the AC went out. Not a great start in Texas in June. Then the washing machine decided to flood the garage, which at the time was still full of all our moving boxes. Surprise! Instant indoor pool. Next, we discovered the main bathroom shower didn’t have the right moisture barrier put in by whoever remodeled it before, which meant constant mold. Oh, and that shower will eventually have to be completely redone. Then termites showed up. Then rats. Then the washing machine fully broke. And when we got our first water bill (almost $400), we learned we had a huge plumbing leak. Meanwhile, the flooring still wasn’t done because of foundation work, the ceiling fans were broken, the light fixtures were faulty, and shower heads were literally snapping off.

Welcome to homeownership. I heard that phrase repeatedly, and every single time, it felt like a punch to the face. I thought we we bought our home we had FINALLY become “real grown-ups”, and now I felt (and honestly continually fight the feeling) that we were in over our heads. 

Needless to say, it has been a rough three months. And yet, in the middle of it all, God has been teaching me something so freeing: resting in Him has nothing to do with circumstances.

This house is still my husband’s dream home. Built in 1965, it has so much character, and we know in our hearts this is the place God wanted for us. But we also know we don’t have the money or ability to fix everything overnight. And that’s hard. But instead of letting the weight of it all crush me, God keeps whispering, “I am your Provider. Rest in Me, not in the situation.”

That’s not easy when life is full to the brim. Like most women, I wear a lot of hats. I’m a Campus Coordinator for a Christian-based nonprofit that gets to step into schools and share the gospel with students. That is an unbelievable God-given opportunity and honestly still blows my mind. I also work for a roofing company helping with social media, marketing, and basically whatever else they need done that day. On top of that, I’m a full-time student finishing my bachelor’s degree this December. Praise the Lord for that finish line! I volunteer at our church, I’m a mom to the most amazing 8-year-old, a wife to the most patient man in the world, and an active part of our community. Oh yes, we have pets too, and I somehow said yes to PTO.

It’s busy. Good busy. Blessed busy. But still busy. And sometimes, if I’m honest, it’s just plain hard.

That’s why I love the story in Mark 4 where Jesus is literally taking a nap in the middle of a storm. Picture this: the disciples, who were experienced fishermen, are freaking out because the waves are crashing, the boat is rocking, and they’re convinced they’re about to die. Meanwhile, Jesus is asleep on a cushion. As in, peacefully snoozing while water is splashing into the boat. They finally wake Him up shouting, “Don’t you care if we drown?” And what does Jesus do? He stands up, rebukes the wind, tells the waves to be still, and instantly the storm stops. Then He looks at His disciples and basically says, “Why were you so scared? Don’t you trust Me?”

That scene gets me every time. Jesus wasn’t asleep because He didn’t care. He was asleep because He was secure. He knew Who was in control. He knew that the storm wasn’t stronger than His Father. He knew His purpose wasn’t about to be undone by some wind and waves. And because of that, He could rest, even while the boat was being tossed around.

Honestly, I want that kind of rest. Because the truth is, my storms might not be waves crashing over the side of a boat, but they do look like broken washing machines, scary water bills, busy schedules, and the weight of trying to juggle all the roles I carry. Maybe your storm looks completely different, but the feeling is the same: overwhelming, exhausting, and sometimes terrifying.

And in those moments, I find myself just like the disciples, crying out, “God, don’t you care?” But the same Jesus who calmed that sea is the same Jesus who is with me in my chaos. He does care. He is in the boat with me. And when the time is right, He speaks peace over the storm.

That’s why His words in Matthew 11:28 are such a gift: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He didn’t say, “Come to me and I’ll make sure nothing ever goes wrong.” He didn’t say, “Come to me and I’ll clear your schedule.” He said, “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

True rest isn’t when the house is finally fixed. It isn’t when the calendar magically clears. It isn’t when life is calm and easy. True rest is found in Him. In His presence. In His Word. In His promises.

So if your life feels like one giant storm right now, remember this: you can still rest. Not because everything is easy, but because God is faithful. The same Jesus who took a nap in the storm is the same Jesus holding you steady today.

It takes audacious faith to rest in God when the storms of life are raging. It’s easy to say “trust God” when the seas are calm, but when the waves are crashing and your heart feels like it’s sinking, choosing to rest is radical. It’s audacious to believe God for a promised child while you sit in the storm of infertility. It’s audacious to wait in hopeful expectation for the spouse God has for you when you feel painfully single. It’s audacious to trust Him with your finances when the bills stack higher than your income. It’s audacious to lean into His promises when the evidence around you seems to scream the opposite.

And yet, that’s the beauty of faith. It isn’t blind optimism. It’s not pretending everything is fine. It’s the bold, countercultural decision to anchor your soul in the truth that God is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do. Resting in God when everything is in chaos is one of the most powerful testimonies of trust you can give. It’s saying to the world, “My peace doesn’t come from what I see, it comes from Who I know is in the middle of the storm with me.”

Tracie Tevault is a recent addition to the STXWM blog team. Married for 15 years to her best friend, Tracie is raising one awesome son and three spoiled cats. With a heart for ministry, Tracie has served in many areas, but her true passion lies in reaching those who might not fit the traditional church mold. She’s all about showing people they are loved, valued, and created with a purpose.