In the thick of a Florida summer, we know the feeling of a heavy, humid atmosphere. It’s the kind of air that feels like it’s pressing against you. Sometimes, our homes feel that way, too – crowded with needs, sensory overload, and the constant “chatter” of a house that never quite stops moving.
As the organizing anchor of my home, it is my joy and my job to keep thinks from spiraling. But when you are the one holding it all together for a husband with ADHD and a daughter with both Turner Syndrome and ADHD, the pressure can mount.
Yesterday, I felt that pressure. Three different times, I was on the verge of screaming. Between my daughter’s constant chatter and the things I was trying to accomplish, I was at my limit. The noise of life felt like a physical weight on my shoulders.
But instead of letting the pressure explode, I stopped. I didn’t have a long, poetic prayer in me. I just whispered two words: “Oh, LORD.”
That was it.
In an instant, I felt it – a release of pressure. It was like a cool breeze through an open window washing over my mind, making instant room where there had been none. That is what I call grace. It’s the low-friction mercy of a Father who is already there, standing in the room, knowing exactly how much I am carrying.
The Ministry of the Bedside Shelf
I’ve been thinking about that low-friction grace as I look at my husband’s skincare. He was the first person in Canada ever diagnosed with ADHD, so I’ve learned over the years that if a task has too many steps or “feels” wrong, it simply won’t happen. He has dry patches and sunspots, but he hates the feel of lotion or fragrance.
Instead of trying to force a new habit onto him, I decided to lower the friction.
I took the products I had on hand – a soothing Beyond Glow Centella Serum and his trusted Physiogel – and moved them. I put them right on his bedside shelf. No bathroom mirror required, no “process, no fuss. Just a simple, quiet way to care for him exactly where he is.
He Is Already There
The reason my two-word prayer worked wasn’t because the words were magical. It worked because the Father was there. He heard the chatter. He saw the “anchor” starting to fray. “Oh LORD” summed it up. It said everything from “Help!” to “How do I cope with this?” It acknowledged that even the one holding everything together needs to be held.
This is the heart of Fresh Mercy. The Father does not remember the confessed sins of yesterday; He wipe the slate clean every single morning. If we wake up with a heavy heart, unhappy or even cranky, we don’t need to perform a massive spiritual overhaul. We just need to spend time with Him, cleaning our hearts and confessing our weight.
Fresh Mercy for You Today
Whether you are the one struggling with focus or the one acting as the anchor for your family, we all encounter “dry patches” in our souls.
If you’re feeling the pressure today, don’t feel like you need a grand strategy. Move your care to the bedside. Simplify the prayer. Turn your heart toward the One who is already there in the room with you.
Whisper His name. Let the breeze of His Spirit wash through the window of your mind and make room.
He is already there, waiting with a clean slate and a fresh breeze.
Your turn
What is the constant chatter in your life today? What is the task that feels like it’s pushing you to the edge?
I want to encourage you: You don’t need a sermon. You don’t even need a full sentence. Just turn your heart toward the One who is already standing there in the chaos with you. Whisper His name. Let Him make instant room in your mind.
I’d love to hear from you – leave a comment! What is your two-word prayer today? Let’s celebrate the Fresh Mercy of His presence together.