Kristen Grossman Prose

Fruit of the Spirit: Producing Bounty in Barren Seasons

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22

I sit at my computer in the quiet and stillness of the early morning. I am not a morning person, so it takes great effort for me to rise in the darkness of the early dawn. Yet, there is something sacred about the time spent meeting with the Lord while the rest of the household slumbers.

Our family is nearing the end of our fifth week of sheltering at home. For the most part, these past few weeks have been outwardly peaceful and calm. We have settled into new routines, strengthened our family relationships, and enjoyed a type of rest that is not possible in the hectic routines of our regular lives.

Yet, beneath this veneer of calm, there persists worry. We worry for those who are sick, those who are risking their lives to perform their jobs, and those who have lost their income. We grieve for those who are hungry, those who are lonely, and those living in abusive homes without the respite provided by work or school.

As the governor of California begins to develop a plan for gradually reopening our state, I find new anxiety threatening to grip my heart. If I am not careful to keep my eyes on Christ, I can start to fear crowds, disease, and the process of sending my children back out into the world.

I long for my mind and heart to be at peace. The Lord tells us that peace is a fruit of the Spirit. I realize I must cultivate this fruit in my life, despite whatever circumstances may surround me.  

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

The question is, how do I truly find peace when so many worries threaten to overtake my mind? How do I reflect and embody peace when all around me, the world seems a scary and uncertain place? I know that to experience peace, I need to immerse myself in the presence of God, the source of all peace, through Bible reading and prayer.

However, when fear jumbles my thoughts, I find it difficult to concentrate on written words. I find myself rereading the same passages without comprehension or realize I am moving my eyes unseeingly over the Scripture. I discover my mind wandering and know I am not giving the Lord my full attention in prayer, or I realize I cannot even come up with the words to pray.

Two techniques have helped me to quiet my mind and settle my soul to engage in meaningful time with the Lord. These approaches have provided me with practical ways to engage with God and experience His peace in the midst of worry and fear.  

Coloring and Listening to an Audio Bible App

As a homeschool mom, I often enjoyed reading aloud or listening to audiobooks of historical fiction with my children. Smaller children found it challenging to sit still and listen to a story. However, a coloring page or box of Legos allowed them to keep their hands busy and their minds settled while we listened to a tale. I have found this technique works for me today. Listening to my audio Bible while coloring brings me peace and allows me to focus on the sacred words.

Praying the Psalms

I sometimes get bored listening to myself praying for the same things in the same way over and over. I start to wonder if God Himself might feel the same. At other times, I feel weary, and as though I don’t have two words to string together. The Psalms have provided me with a beautiful template to raise my voice to God when I don’t have words of my own. As I read or listen to the words, I add my own praise and requests to those of the Psalmist:

Dear Lord, true peace can feel hard to obtain. I thank you that the peace You provide is not dependent on life circumstances. I pray that You would continue to help us find Your peace and to reflect that peace in our lives. Amen.