He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. – Psalm 23:2-3
The Heart of the Matter
Before the calendar fills, before the holiday music starts looping in store aisles, and before the sensory volume of the season gets turned all the way up, there is October. It arrives like a gentle exhale from heaven—a brief, quiet pause where the light softens and the air cools.
In years past, I used late October to sprint ahead planning every detail, stressing over schedules, and driving myself into holiday burnout before November even arrived. But God didn’t design our minds or our homes to run at a continuous, high-rpm engine speed. He created seasons, rhythms, and quiet waters. Embracing this late-October lull isn’t lazy; it is a spiritual discipline of preparation.
When you live with ADHD or sensory sensitivities, peace doesn’t just happen by accident—it has to be protected. If we don’t deliberately decide what gets entry into our homes and calendars, the noise of the world will fill every empty corner.
It is so easy to live two weeks ahead in our minds, constantly worrying about the next task on the list. But Jesus calls us to meet Him in today. When we slow down to harvest the quiet joys of late October, we anchor our hearts in His provision. We remind ourselves that the peace of our homes doesn’t depend on producing a picture-perfect holiday, it depends on the presence of the One who holds us.
Protecting the Quiet: Gentle Boundaries for a Peaceful Season
This week, before the flurry begins, take a quiet hour to set your boundary lines in grace:
- Create Daily Pockets of Stillness: Dedicate just ten minutes in the morning or evening to absolute quiet. Sit with a warm cup of tea, open your Bible, remember one gratitude. Simply look out at the yard as the morning light breaks or the sun sets. Let your mind rest before the daily demands begin.
- Harvest the quiet joy first: Notice the simple gifts God has already placed right in front of you- morning light through the window, a warm mug in your hands, the rustle of leaves outside. Fill your tank on His everyday goodness now.
- Create sensory sanctuary space: Physical clutter often translates to mental clutter. Use this month to gently clear off a few main surfaces in your home—a kitchen counter, a dining table, or your favorite reading chair. A clean, open space naturally invites a sense of calm and rest.
- Read Ahead for Advent: Don’t wait until the first Sunday of Advent to look for a devotional or decide how you want to focus your family’s heart. Take time this month to browse meaningful readings or find a simple guide that resonates with you (you can find my full printable Advent Reading Guide in the shop!) so you can step into the season with intention.
By setting these gentle boundaries early, we aren’t building walls to keep people out; we are building a peaceful harbor so we can serve and love our families from a place of abundance rather than exhaustion.
A Closing Prayer for the October Quiet
Father, thank You for the gift of this quiet season. Before the bustle of the holidays begins, anchor my heart in Your peace. Give me the wisdom to set gentle boundaries, the discernment to say no to unnecessary noise, and eyes to see the quiet joys You have scattered throughout my days. Make our home a refuge of Your grace and rest. Amen.
In Your Notebook
Scripture Writing Practice Slowing down to write God’s Word by hand is a wonderful way to quiet a busy mind. Take out your notebook, choose a favorite pen, and carefully copy Psalms 23:2-3 word for word:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake,”
As you write each word, pause on the phrase that touches your heart most today. What does it feel like to imagine Him leading you to those quiet waters right now?
A Little Housekeeping
This is week two of the ten-week series of Cultivating Peace. Our series will take us all the way through New Year – a time of year that can run away with us, making life very hectic, and exhausting ourselves, stealing our joy and robbing us of dwelling with delight.
Let’s not let that happen. Let’s instead lean hard into Jesus. Follow His lead and carve out time to just be present in this season.
As is our custom, you will find the hub page right here. And as we move forward each post and it’s go-along page will be added to Cultivating Peace hub page.
If you have just joined us, Welcome! And be sure to sign up for our twice a month newsletter.
Some other handy links for you are right below.
BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network) | Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee | Avon