Devo Thought - Peace In The Pieces

Peace in the Pieces: A Holiday Devotional for Single Moms Facing Trauma, Drama, and Overthinking

In this powerful holiday devotional, Sherry speaks directly to the single mom who’s navigating holiday trauma, unexpected emotions, family tension, loneliness, or memories that hit harder this time of year. Whether you grew up without traditions, are raising kids with different dads, or are juggling multiple homes and overwhelming expectations, this episode offers hope, grounding, and real strategies that work when you're sitting alone in a room with your thoughts.

Get ready for practical and out-of-the-box tools that help you break free from panic, silence the enemy’s trigger tactics, and reconnect with God’s peace — even in the hardest moments.

Grab a pen and paper — you’ll want to write these down.
Some of the strategies include:

• The “Name 5” Method to stop spiraling thoughts
• The “Sit With Jesus Chair” for when loneliness hits hard
• The “Hand Over Heart” Reset to calm breath and body
• The “Give to Get” Strategy for getting out of your head fast
• The "Write-and-Rip" Release to break emotional pressure

Sherry also shares a powerful promise from God, a heartfelt prayer over your heart and home, and an invitation to reach out to the 24/7 prayer line at 855-822-PRAY whenever the season feels too heavy to carry alone.

This episode is for the mama who needs peace, presence, and a reminder that God is with her in every piece of her story.

Share this devotional with another mom who’s struggle-busing through the holidays — peace multiplies when we pass it on.

Chapters

• 0:00 Holiday Weight For Single Moms
• 1:29 Grieving Traditions You Never Had
• 3:17 God’s Nearness In Scattered Seasons
• 5:06 From Triggers To Truth And Peace
• 6:56 Ten Grounding Strategies That Work
• 19:30 Promise Prayer And Steady Presence
• 22:36 Prayer Line Support And Sharing Hope

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome to It's a Single Mom Thing. The show for Single Moms by Single Moms. This is Sherry, your host, and I am happy you are here today. Remember, it's a single mom thing, and not the single thing that stops you. The holidays, or holidays, as I like to call them, well, they have a way of stirring up more than memories, don't they? And with Thanksgiving this week, that is if you're listening in the United States, you may already be stuffed like a turkey. Stuffed with what? Well, with other people's emotions, expectations, with a little extra helping of drama that you didn't order. For some of us, though this season doesn't feel like twinkling lights and warm cocoa, oh no, it feels like old wounds waking up, fresh frustrations rising, and family patterns showing up like they still own the place. And for a single mom, whew, the weight hits differently, right? Because why? Because you're trying to make this season magical, miraculous for your kids while managing at the same time emotional mindfields that seem to light up earlier than a Christmas tree. But mama, listen, if your holiday feels messy, tense, or even full of triggers, you can still find peace in the pieces. Welcome back to another episode of It's a Single Mom Thing. So we're gonna jump right in with the trigger of tradition. And here's the truth: holiday trauma doesn't just come from broken traditions. Sometimes it actually comes from never having traditions to begin with. Some of you listening were never married, some had a child unexpectedly, some never even had family support of their own, and some of you listening are raising children with different dads, which means this season isn't just busy, it is logistically and emotionally exhausting. For you, the holidays don't always bring back memories. Sometimes, on the contrary, they bring up the reality that you've had to build everything from scratch, without a model, without consistency, and ladies, you know it, often without help. I get this. And while some people grieve what used to be, you may be the one grieving what never was. The family you pictured but never experienced, the partner who never showed up, the traditions you dreamed of but couldn't create, the stability you wanted to give your kids, but have to fight twice as hard for. And then there's the mom whose kids are heading to different homes. Whew. That stretches you some ways people most people won't even understand. You see, you're packing bags, organizing schedules, smoothing out emotions, trying to hold it together while your heart is being divided between places you can't be at the same time. Aren't you glad you came here today? So it's not just the absence of tradition, sometimes it's the ache of feeling like your family's scattered in multiple directions while you're left standing in the quiet with nothing but your thoughts and a calendar full of drop-offs and pickups. But here's what I need you to hear. You ready? God meets you in the spaces you've had to hold alone. He meets you in the pieces of holiday you never planned. He meets you in the places where you've had to be everything because no one else was. He doesn't wait for your family to match someone else's. Oh no, he steps into the one you're raising. Beautiful and perfect, patched together with determination and grace, and maybe a little duct tape, and he calls it worthy. And he says it right here in Psalms 34, 18. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Is that you right now? You see, he's close to the mom with scattered kids. He's close to the mom who's never had support. He's close to the mom juggling multiple homes, multiple schedules, and multiple emotions. He's close to the mom whose traditions are brand new, or barely hanging on like a loose hair in a biscuit. So if this season brings up the ache of what you never had, or the weight of what you're still carrying, you're not failing. Oh no, listen, you're seen. Find comfort in that. You're held. And your family in all its forms is covered by the God who fills every empty space with his presence. The drama you didn't ask for, but the peace you still get. So here's the thing, ladies. When the holidays hit, so do the thoughts. Am I right? Mine started, let's see, back in Halloween. All tricks and no treats. And what do I mean by that? I mean the overthinking, the what if spirals, the fear of being alone, the worry about doing it all wrong. Well, it's like everything gets louder this time of year. Who am I talking to? I can't just be talking to myself here. But listen, we need to learn how to lean in for a second. And what do I mean by that? What I mean is you don't have to stay in that space. You don't have to let those thoughts drag you through a holiday that you're dreading. Because here's some truth that I want to share with you. Okay? The enemy would love for you to forget. Forget what? That the holidays aren't about pressure, that they're not about perfection, that they're not even about performing for family or pretending you're okay. Oh no. The holidays, they are about being thankful for what? Well, for his grace, his resting in his mercy and receiving his love. And listen, the enemy knows that if he can pull your mind into panic, comparison, guilt, or grief, well, then he can distract you from the very things God wants to pour into you this season. So what does he use? Trigger tactics. These are what he does. Tradition triggers, loneliness whispers, family drama, financial stress, strace, financial stress, old wounds and new worries. He uses them like smoke screens, not because he's powerful, please, but because he's predictable. But listen, ladies, you are not, and I'm gonna say it again, you are not powerless. And listen, you are not alone. John 14 20 says, My listen, oh my gravy. Let me slow down a bit. My peace I give you, not as the world gives you. So God's peace doesn't wait for calm conditions. On the contrary, his peace comes into the chaos with you. It sits with you in the late night tears and the early morning overthinking. It lifts you when you feel stretched, scattered, or even unseen. I see you. And here's the truth about loneliness because I know it can hit hard this time of year. Trust me. Loneliness, though, this is what we need to remember, is a feeling it is not a fact. Here's the fact. The fact is, God is with you right now. He is in this room, he is in your parenting, he is in your moments of stillness, and he is in your moments of overwhelm. So, when the drama rises, whether from others or from your own thoughts, ladies, you get to choose what voice you listen to. And this season, you can, and remember to listen to me, you can say with confidence, I won't fall for the enemy's tricks. I know what this season is really about. I see you over there, Satan. I know who holds my heart and I know who holds my future. See, you don't have to carry the holiday, you don't have to control the chaos. You, my friends, just have to keep your eyes on the one who is carrying you. Open your eyes, boo, and focus on him. Listen, I know it is hard. So, and I'm not just speaking things here because I want to move into when the panic hits. I want to give you practical strategies that actually work. I'm not just talking smack here, okay? So let's talk about what to do when the pressure gets real, because it's gonna happen. It might be real for you right now. Not the, and I'm not gonna talk to you about let's light a candle and take a bubble bath. Oh no, not that kind of stuff because you and I both know that doesn't erase the ache or stop the spiral. I'm talking about practical, powerful, on-the-ground strategies, okay? For when you're sitting in your living room and it hits you, that only thing in the room with you, you know what that is? That is your own thoughts. So I'm gonna live, I'm gonna give you a little warning right now. You are going to want to have, and if you don't have it with you right now, you need to go get it, a pen and a pad or paper. Pad or paper, listen to me, a pad of paper, or simply play this podcast over and over as you need it this holiday season. That's right, you need to take me with you, and I will be the voice with you through this holidays. So listen, as you know, I'm always real with you. Listen, if I'm being totally honest with you, and I do this, you can ask my sisters, I have to sometimes go back and listen to what I suggested to you and remind myself that I'm not alone in this either. And there is practical information that this choir needs preaching to. So listen, we're gonna do this together. When the panic rises, when the breath gets tight, when the loneliness feels loud, when your mind starts saying things, your heart doesn't have the strength to argue with. These are the things we're gonna do, and they're not just cute strategies. Okay, no, these are gonna be our lifelines. So you ready? I hope you got your pen and paper ready. Number one, I want you to put both feet on the floor because this is gonna reconnect your spirit to your body. So when panic hits, your body leaves the moment before your mind does, right? So this is what I want you to do: plant your feet flat, steady and firm, preferably with no shoes or socks on. I want you to feel the floor to your feet because this is what it's gonna do. This is gonna signal to your nervous system we are safe, we are here, and we are grounded. You don't have to feel peaceful to start creating peace. Okay, so number two, I call this the name five. Okay, this is a strategy that pulls you out of the spiral, okay? So listen, you know that you are not your thoughts, but spiral spiraling, let me say it again. Thoughts, well, what could do they do? Well, they can hijack your reality. And so here's your interpreter, okay? This is how we're gonna get through that, and I want you to name five things that you can see. We're going backwards, we're gonna go five, four, three, two, one. So five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can thank God for. What this is gonna do for you, ladies, this is gonna pull you out of the panic moment as you're starting to spiral, and it's going to drop you back into control. Five, four, three, two, one. Okay, so number three, and there's ten of them. I'm just warning you, there's ten. I didn't tell you that. There's ten. So number three, the hand over heart reset when you're holding your breath. I don't know about you, but I notice when I am in a full-on panic or something was going on in my head that maybe I even I'm not even aware of my head is thinking about. I find that if I'm holding my breath, I am not present. So if you're that way too, I want you to put your hand over your heart right there. Okay, you got it. And then I want you to gently whisper, God, I'm here. You're here. Help me breathe again. Take a slow inhale, hold it for two seconds, and then exhale longer than your inhale. What you will notice is that your body begins calming down before your thoughts do. And now you don't have to think your way into peace, okay? You can breathe your way into it. Okay, so how are we doing? Okay, these are good, right? Listen, number four, the sit with Jesus chair. This is gonna feel wild, but trust me, it works. So, what I want you to do is put yourself in time out. Yeah, I said it. Then while you're in timeout, I want you to pick an empty chair in your home, any chair. And when the loneliness hits or the anxiety surges, turn to that chair and say out loud, Jesus, I know you're here. Now, why a chair? Well, because your mind needs something physical to respond to. It turns God with me from an idea actually into practical presence. And you're not just talking to the chair, you're acknowledging the one who promised never to leave you. Now, that's not weird, it may seem. No, on the contrary, this is warfare. So, number five, the write and rip release. If your thoughts are too loud to pray, and I know y'all got some noise up in there just like I do. So, this is where I want you to write them down on any piece of paper. And what I want you to write down are the lies, the fears, the shame, the anger, the loneliness. You know, put it on paper. Then rip it up physically, dramatically, like you're done letting the enemy narrate your holiday. Okay, that kind of rip. Do this as many times as needed, and get your kids involved if they need to. You're not being dramatic. What you're actually doing is you are being free. Number six, the 30-second gratitude fight back. Okay, let's get our gloves on. And I'm not talking soft gratitude, not like I guess I'm thankful or something. I mean, I'm talking real gritty gratitude. Set a timer for 30 seconds and rapidly list anything you're thankful for. Things that don't sound holy but are still blessings. Like, I'm thankful for these lights working. I'm thankful for the air in my lungs. I am thankful I didn't quit today. I'm thankful God sees me. I'm thankful my kids love me even on my worst day. And I'm thankful that I let Jesus win in this situation. Because listen, gratitude doesn't erase pain, but listen, it does punch holes into the darkness. Number seven, the one brave thing rule. Okay, so on the days when the holidays feel like too much, ladies, don't try to fix everything. Just do one brave thing. Maybe make one phone call instead of text. Take one walk, pray one honest prayer, send one encouraging note of thanks to someone, drink one glass of water, do one small task. Because one brave thing leads to the next, it adds up and it reminds your mind. I'm still moving, I'm still living, and I am still held. Number eight, speak out the truth out loud. You know me, I'm about talking out loud. So listen, thoughts lose power when truth gets louder. Say it out loud, even if your voice shakes. I'm saying things like, This moment's not my whole story. God is with me right now. I'm not broken, I am healing. I'm not alone, I'm covered. Oh no, I am stronger than what I feel. I say that one a lot because listen, you speak it until your spirit starts to believe it. And listen, your whole body and mind are gonna follow it. Number five. Five, like I can't count. Nine, call the panic what it is. And when I'm talking about panic, it is not truth, it is not prophecy, and it is not your future. Panic is just a feeling, it is just a moment, and it is just a tactic of the enemy. And listen, listen, who I'm getting all hyped up here. Listen. Feelings, what do we know? They pass, moments shift, tactics fail, but God he stays and he steadies and he holds. And number 10, this is probably one of my favorite ones, and it's just so funny that it's at a Thanksgiving time of season, and it's the give-to-get strategy, meaning you're going to get out of your head this way. So when your mind is spiraling, when the loneliness gets loud, when your thoughts feel like they're running the show, one of the fastest ways to quiet the noise, honestly, is to give something to someone else. And I'm not talking necessarily money, and I'm not talking really a big gesture. Just give something simple. Send a quick encouragement text. Hold the door for someone, drop a compliment to a stranger, pray for another single mama, message someone with, hey, you crossed my mind and I'm cheering for you. Bring your neighbor's trash can in, buy someone a coffee if you can. I know that coffee is expensive these days, or tell them a kind word if you can. Because here's the secret: when you give love, encouragement, kindness, or prayer to someone else, did you know that your brain shifts? Your spiral lifts, your focus moves from the spiral to the savior. It's not about pretending your pain isn't real, that's not what I'm talking about. But it is about reminding your heart that God still moves through you, still speaks through you, and still uses you. Even if you feel that your life is in a bunch of pieces, even on the days when you feel empty, and sometimes the very thing you need, well, it gets unlocked when you pour a little bit of it out for someone else. You see, this isn't performance, this is perspective, and it's powerful. These aren't lofty strategies, they're actually doable, they're real, and they work when you're sitting in a room by yourself with breath shaking, heart racing, or tears falling for reasons you can't even explain. You're not weak for needing tools, ladies. You're wise for using them. So listen, as you step into these moments, grounding your thoughts, breathing through the hard spots, and even giving to get out of your own head, I want to leave you with something even stronger to hold on to. A promise from God that carries you through this season and all the other seasons of your life. So it's a promise, a prayer, and peace for the pieces that you're holding on to. You ready? So here's the promise from God. Before you close this episode, ladies, listen, I want you to hold on to this promise that God Himself speaks over you. And it's found in Hebrews 13, 5. And you've heard it before, but I'm going to remind you of it. And he says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Not in the loud moments, not in the lonely moments, not in the moments where you're trying to take a deep breath and you can't find one. Not in the parts of the holiday that feel heavier than they look. God is with you, not seasonally, but steadily. He walks with you into every room, sits with you in every quiet place, and covers you and every moment you feel stretched thin. His presence is not fragile, and his peace is definitely not occasional. So before we close, I do want to pray over you. Jesus, thank you for seeing this mama that's listening exactly where she is and exactly how she feels right now. I know you see the strength she uses every day, and you see the moments when her spirit feels tired. Lord Jesus, meet her in every piece that she's carrying. Trade her panic for your peace, her loneliness for your love, and her fear for your reassurance. Let your presence settle her heart and steady her breathing. Cover her home with your comfort, fill her thoughts with your truth, surround her with your grace, and remind her, Father God, that she is never, never walking through a single moment of this season alone. Lord, I pray that you would go before her, stand beside her, and hold her close. In Jesus' name, amen. So listen, I want you to know that you have a place to reach out to, ladies. If your heart gets heavy this holiday, if the pieces feel sharp or the loneliness sneaks back in, or you just need someone to pray with you, call our 24-hour prayer line at 855-822-Pray day or night. Someone will, and I promise you, someone will speak peace over you. You were never meant to walk this season alone. So, also, before we go, I want you to give together, and I want you to give a gift to another mama. If this devotional gave you comfort, clarity, or courage, please, please, please share it with a friend who struggled her way through the holiday too. You never know. Or share might be the lifeline she's been praying for. So this has been your devotional, peace in the pieces. Have a wonderful week. And remember, it's a single mom thing, and not a single thing that stops you. Thanks for listening to It's a Single Mom Thing. I hope you enjoyed our time together. If you have more questions on how to have a relationship with Jesus or need prayer, visit us at www.shepherdsvillage.com backslash prayer. For more information and resources, check out our show notes.