A friend of mine, Tanya, said that little phrase to me the other day, “disrupting the nest.” And goodness, did it land. This season of life has felt like someone walked right into my cozy little corner, gave it a shake, and left chicken feathers floating in the air. My schedule hasn’t been my own. I’ve had to let go of a few things that were deeply important to me just to stay afloat.

And honestly? It stinks. It’s hard. It feels a little bit unfair.

BUT…

There’s something about seasons of disruption that reveal what steady seasons never could. When everything is smooth, we don’t always notice the rough spots. When everything is predictable, we don’t always pay attention to what needs tending.

But when life gets messy? That’s where the Lord does some of His kindest, most clarifying work.

The Invitation Hidden Inside Disruption

The uncomfortable truth is this: disruption exposes the gap between what we say we believe and what we live when pressure hits.

Paul calls it the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). When I’m frazzled, trying to force outcomes, or holding white-knuckled to my plans, I can see pretty quickly where those fruit are… and where they’re not.

Jesus said, “Abide in Me… apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5) And isn’t it funny how disruption is often the very thing that shows us whether we’re actually abiding or just running on fumes?

I love how gentle the Holy Spirit is. He doesn’t shame us. He nudges. He highlights. He invites.

And when we finally unclench our jaw, open our hands, and stop trying to mastermind every little detail, something sacred happens: peace returns. Scriptures That Steady Us in the Shake-Ups

Here are a few that anchor me in seasons like this:

• Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” Sometimes the stillness is the surrender.

• Isaiah 26:3 (My favorite verse) “You will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” Peace isn’t found in control, it’s found in trust.

• 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (That verse takes me back to 9th grade English class, where Mrs Perlinger first showed me that Scripture. Thank you, Mrs. P!) Don’t just cast some of the cares… all of them.

• Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.” Even the disrupted ones.

Two Practical Ways to Notice When You’re in a “Bad Headspace” The Holy Spirit is faithful to show us where we’re off track, but sometimes it helps to have a couple of checkpoints:

1. The Fruit Check Ask yourself: “What fruit am I producing today?”

• Am I snappy?

• Restless?

• Easily irritated?

• Controlling every detail?

Those aren’t signs of failure , they’re signs that you’ve shifted out of abiding. They’re like dashboard lights. They tell you, “Hey… time to pull over and reconnect.”

2. The Tension Check Our bodies tell the truth long before our words do.

• Tight jaw

• Shallow breathing

• Shoulders up to our ears

• Racing thoughts

• “Crispy” attitude (you know the one)

When tension rises, it’s usually a sign we’re trying to hold what God is asking us to release.

What to Do About It

Here are a few simple resets that help me get back into the right posture:

1. Breathe- long inhale, long exhale.

2. Pray early- not after everything falls apart.

3. Release intentionally- say out loud, “Lord, I give this back to You.”

4. Pause the spiraling- write down what’s bothering you, even if it’s messy.

5. Invite peace- ask Him to steady your thoughts and emotions.

Over the years, all fifty-four of them, I’ve learned this truth the hard way:

The quicker I let go, the faster my spirit settles. My thoughts get clearer. My heart softens. My hands unclench. And peace slides right back where it belongs.

Because at the end of the day…

He’s got us. When we let Him.

Wouldn’t you agree?

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

I had never really thought about advent until a couple of years ago when a friend shared the book she was starting to read the beginning of December. That got me curious and I ordered a couple of devotionals from pastors that I trusted, cuz honestly, I didn’t know what I was getting into. This year I’ve got a new book on its way. It’s free right now with KindleUnlimited. Max Lucado’s “In the Manger“.

It’s a beautiful way to settle into the season with intention… To slow down the hurry… And to remember that Christmas is really about Christ stepping into our mess with mercy, peace, and joy.