Romans 15:5-7 — May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
I am once again sprinting through my morning.
My keys are missing. The coffee is too hot. My shoes are nowhere to be found. I’m moving so fast, talking faster, and stressed about everything. I need help! And there he is—Chris, my husband—calmly tying his shoes like the world is not on fire.
He’s ready.
Of course he is.
His coffee is brewed. His lunch is packed. He has his Bible open. Calm. Unbothered.
I give a sideways glance at him while I’m rushing past. I tease him, of course, for moving at a snail’s pace and joke that he’s acting like he’s on vacation while I’m breaking a sweat.
But then I stop myself. Because the truth is, I’m really inspired by his mornings. I don’t think I have ever seen this man live with a drop of anxiety at all. And do you know why? I think that’s on purpose.
Day after day, he’s prepared.
His peace is practiced. It’s not accidental. Chris thought ahead and took care of some things the night before. He gave his future self a gift. And now he’s living in the peace that preparation creates.
Watching him, my mind drifts to something Jesus once taught about wisdom. He talked about two people building two houses. Same weather. Same storm. One stands. One falls. The difference wasn’t the storm. It was the foundation.
Jesus wasn’t giving a lesson on productivity or morning routines. He was talking about lives built on obedience to Him—lives anchored in truth rather than impulse. Still, standing there with my shoes in the wrong place and my heart in a hurry, I can’t help but notice how wisdom often shows up long before the wind starts howling.
Preparation doesn’t save us. Jesus does. But wisdom has a way of shaping how we walk through the day He gives us.
That realization changes everything.
So, I start small. Imperfectly. I lay out my clothes the night before. I do a little meal prep. I set my alarm a few minutes earlier. Not to earn peace, but to make space for it.
And something shifts.
I’m not magically calm. The mornings aren’t flawless. But I’m less reactive. I have time to open my Bible. I have time to sit on the floor and play with my toddler. I have time to breathe before the day starts asking things of me.
So maybe this is the simple invitation found in moments like these. When you notice someone living with steadiness, maybe it’s not meant to make you feel like a failure. Maybe it’s meant to remind you that wisdom is available.
Instead of just learning to prepare like Chris, you’re learning to accept differences with grace, not irritation.
Peace isn’t something you chase. It’s something you build your life around, one intentional choice at a time, on a foundation that actually holds when the storm comes.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- How do you typically respond when someone’s pace or rhythm is different from yours?
- Is there someone in your life whose calm or steadiness frustrates you more than it encourages you?
- What would it look like to accept others as Christ has accepted you—without comparison or irritation?
- Are there small, intentional choices you could make to create more peace in your daily rhythms?
- How might patience and encouragement change the atmosphere of your home or relationships today?