I📖 Isaiah 26:3— You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Being still enough to hear God’s direction.
🌴 Dear Friends,
Lately, I have found myself spending more time in quiet places.
Not because I have all the answers.
Quite the opposite.
Like many of us, there are seasons when I wish I knew exactly what comes next. Seasons when I would love a clear roadmap, a timeline, or a little certainty about the future.
Instead, I keep finding myself drawn back to stillness.
A morning walk.
A sunrise.
An open Bible.
A few quiet moments before the day begins.
Perhaps that is where some of life’s greatest lessons are found.
Not in rushing ahead.
Not in forcing an answer.
But in learning to be still long enough to hear God’s direction.
Isaiah has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible, and this verse has been on my heart lately:
I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I am learning that peace does not come from having every answer.
It comes from trusting the One who does.
With love,
Under the Palm Tree™
☀️Quiet Enough
Low tide.
A few shells resting in the sand.
The morning still soft around the edges.
One palm tree leans toward the water,
as if it already knows
there is nothing to prove.
The ocean moves in slowly,
then pulls back again,
leaving behind a thin line of foam
and the clean scent of salt in the air.
A breeze slips through the palm leaves.
Not loud.
Not hurried.
Just enough to remind me
I am not holding this world together.
Somewhere above me,
a bird calls once,
then disappears into the light.
The sand is cool beneath my feet.
The sky is pale and open.
The water keeps breathing.
And I begin to understand
that quiet is not empty.
It is full of small holy things.
The hush between waves.
The shimmer of morning on the water.
The soft cry of birds far off.
The steady pull of the tide.
The gentle lifting of the wind.
And somewhere beneath all of it,
Your voice.
Not shouting.
Not rushing.
Not louder than the waves,
or the far-off birds,
or the breeze in the palms.
Just present.
Still and near.
I came looking for direction,
but first You gave me peace.
I came asking what to do next,
but first You taught me how to be still.
So, I will wait here a little longer.
Bare feet in the sand.
Hands open.
Heart unclenched.
Quiet enough to listen.
Still enough to receive.
And willing, finally,
to be led.
Serenity Pink Lemonade
A soft summer drink for slow mornings, quiet afternoons, and peaceful moments by the water.
Ingredients
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 cups cold water
1/2 cup cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, or strawberry puree
1/3 to 1/2 cup honey, sugar, or simple syrup, to taste
Ice
Fresh mint leaves
Lemon slices or pink grapefruit slices for garnish
Optional Add-Ins
A splash of sparkling water
A few sliced strawberries
A small pinch of sea salt
A sprig of rosemary or basil
Directions
In a pitcher, stir together the lemon juice, cold water, and cranberry juice or strawberry puree.
Add honey, sugar, or simple syrup a little at a time, tasting as you go until it feels just right.
Fill glasses with ice and pour the lemonade over the top.
Garnish with fresh mint and a thin slice of lemon or grapefruit.
For a sparkling version, top each glass with a splash of sparkling water right before serving.
Serve cold, sip slowly, and let the moment be quiet.
Nourishment Note
This is the kind of drink that reminds you to pause. Bright lemon, soft pink color, fresh mint, and ice in the glass — simple things that can make an ordinary afternoon feel peaceful.
Walking Thought
Take a quiet walk today and pay attention to the breeze.
Feel it touch your face.
That cool little tingle across your skin.
The way it lifts your hair and makes you close your eyes for a second.
Let your shoulders drop.
Let your jaw loosen.
Let your hands open.
Sometimes peace begins in the body before the mind catches up.
The breeze moves over you, and for a moment, the tension lets go.
You do not have to explain it.
You do not have to earn it.
Just breathe.
Let God meet you there.
Breathe deeply.
Walk slowly.
Let God meet you in the breeze.
Under the Palm Tree,
Stephanie
Leave a Reply