Kristin Elizabeth Couch is a pastor’s wife, the mother of four grown children, and a grandmother. She graduated from Taylor University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing. She has written for Desiring God, Legacy Coalition, and has also been a featured guest on Moody Radio’s Kurt and Kate Mornings. Kristin’s first book was published in 2022 and is entitled It Began on Washington Street – Tracing the Goodness of God Through All of Life. Her second book will be available in 2024. She invites you to read her stories published weekly at 
The holiday season is going to be different for our family this year, and I have found it helpful to acknowledge this before God.
Two of our sons are married, and holidays are now rightly divided between families. Another son has just begun missionary work in South Africa, and thus will not return stateside for either holiday. Our college-aged daughter will be spending Christmas Eve at her boyfriend’s church, which means my husband and I, for the first time since year one of marriage, will find ourselves with snippets of time alone this year. There will not be a moment when our entire crew is together.
I wish I could tell you this was a piece of cake, but honestly? It is not.
These are challenging times for a mother’s heart, and I imagine some of you ladies are swimming through cold, dark, unfamiliar waters, too.
I have found wisdom and encouragement in the perfect place–God’s Word. The only way through is through, and I long to live well before God through every season of change. So, I have been mining the Scriptures for nuggets, and have unearthed some gems:
Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 28:7-8 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”
Both psalmists recognize the weaknesses of human flesh and the mighty strength and protection found in God.
As a Christian, God is my portion and my strength and my shield, too. I must humbly bow and give thanks to the Lord, always. He knows what He is doing, and He is so, so good.
Oh, the richness of God’s Word!
May we, as women, examine the posture of our own heart. Especially in difficult, spinning seasons where life feels chaotic.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was stunned to learn that she would soon deliver a baby boy, despite being a virgin. Her entire simple life was about to be turned upside down.
Her response?
Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, “Behold, I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
This is the heart of faith, an echo of Jesus’ words uttered to God in the garden of Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Our personal will is different from God’s divine will. The question becomes:
How will we choose to respond?
It is only through happy surrender to God that we will find heart peace in difficult circumstances. Our true faith in God is imperishable, unshakable, and safe.
Whatever God chooses for you and for me this holiday season, may we be quick trust Him, serve Him, and adore Him today. Not our will, but His.
