Arise Women's Ministry

10/08/2026

10/07/2026

Nice Lights, Wrong Season: Arise and Shine Devotional

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!”
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

"Mom, Levi's pulling out the Christmas decorations! He's setting up the light-up candy canes and putting lights on the bush outside."

I looked out the window to our front yard, and sure enough, my older child was right. My youngest, Levi, had taken it upon himself to start decorating for Christmas, and it wasn't even October yet.

Apparently, he'd been so inspired by the neighbors' fall displays that he decided to jump ahead to his favorite holiday. I have never seen a kid more excited about Christmas lights than my Levi.

That evening, as I carried the decorations back to the garage to wait for a more appropriate time, it hit me: I am just like my son when it comes to waiting on God. I'd rather do things in my own timing than in His. Waiting is hard.

Standing there with a candy cane in my hand, I realized there was nothing wrong with the lights themselves. The only thing wrong was the timing. And isn't that so often true of us? The longings on our hearts aren't always wrong. We just want them now.

Isaiah reminds us who God is in the middle of our waiting. He longs to be gracious to us. He will rise up to show us compassion. Waiting isn't God doing nothing. It's God preparing to move. He is a God of justice, and no detail escapes His sovereignty. He is never late and never careless.

Are you in a season of waiting, dear one? Is there a longing in your heart that remains unfulfilled? God is kind, and He hasn't forgotten you. But we can't see what He sees, and the temptation to take matters into our own hands can be strong. If you've found yourself rushing ahead, take a breath and step back. God is not in a hurry, and we don't need to be either.

Now, when I see our Christmas decorations tucked away in the garage, I'm reminded that the lights won't stay boxed up forever. They're only waiting for their season… just like whatever is on your heart today.

10/06/2026

Interested to trying out Moms of Grace? Register to let us know you're coming! New ladies are always welcome.

Learn more and register: https://www.arisewomensministry.org/momsofgrace

10/02/2026

It's time! Get registered to join us at our Deeply Rooted Fall Retreat!

Learn more and register: https://www.arisewomensministry.org/retreats

10/01/2026

Registration closes Friday, October 2nd for our Deeply Rooted Fall Retreat! You don't want to miss it!

Learn more and register: https://www.arisewomensministry.org/retreats

09/30/2026

Choose the Better Thing: Arise and Shine Devotional

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

My alarm buzzed, and I groggily reached over to turn it off. My mind immediately went to my to-do list and the tasks for the day, followed by thoughts of what was ahead in the weeks to come. As my brain tried to process it all, I could feel the anxiety and sense of overwhelm rising before my feet ever hit the floor.

In that moment, a Bible story broke through my anxious spiral. I could picture Martha busying herself in the kitchen, trying to get everything done. She glances at the disciples sitting around their Rabbi, Jesus, listening to His every word, and there is her sister, Mary, right at Jesus' feet, the place where the men typically sat. Martha calls attention to her concerns, expecting Jesus to put Mary in her place, but His tender response is not at all what Martha expects.

As I thought through the many things that needed my attention, I felt like Martha, and it was as if I could hear Jesus whispering to my heart:

Darla, Darla, you are worried about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Will you choose to sit at my feet like Mary?

That morning, I chose to prioritize my time with the Lord in His Word, and it made all the difference for the rest of the day. Slowing down and sitting with Scripture was exactly what I needed. Instead of getting lost in the chaos of the tasks ahead, I was reminded of the One who calms the chaos and holds authority over it all.

When was the last time you sat at His feet, dear one? Have you been feeling overwhelmed like Martha, losing sight of what truly matters most? Today, make the decision to surrender your to-do list to Jesus and spend time in His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and be willing to sit in the quiet and listen for His gentle voice. His tender response may be exactly what you need to hear.