Sacred Chaos
Finding Joy and Jesus in the Messiness of Motherhood
by Jennifer Stavinoha
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Sep 05 2025 | Archive Date Not set
Talking about this book? Use #SacredChaos #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
A Mini-Retreat for Moms Searching for God in the Chaos
Remember when prayer felt peaceful? You’d find a quiet corner, light a candle, and take your time with God. Now, as a mom, life looks a little different. Your prayers might sound more like “Lord, please just get me through dinner!” Between carpools, snack requests, temper tantrums, nonstop Nerf battles—the list goes on!—finding time for intentional prayer feels impossible.
In Sacred Chaos, Ablaze Families missionary Jennifer Stavinoha invites you to rediscover intimacy with God right where you are—even if you’re sleep deprived, in the midst of potty training, or feeling overwhelmed by work and childcare demands. “Now that I’m living my vocation as a wife and mother, prayer has become less ethereal and far more physical,” she writes. “The Lord is here in the laughter of my children, in the car line, in the kitchen chaos. He’s ever present, inviting me to pause and breathe him in.”
This restorative mini-retreat is designed for moms in the trenches of family life and requires just five minutes a day. It’s not just another devotional with prewritten prayers—it’s a practical guide to help you rediscover how to connect with God, renew your spirit, and find peace in the midst of your beautiful, messy reality.
Here’s how the retreat unfolds:
Week 1: Desire—Awaken your longing to be seen, known, and deeply loved by God just as you are.
Week 2: Encounter—Reconnect with God in the chaos through a simple, adaptable approach to prayer.
Week 3: Joy—Offer your heart to God and experience his mercy, his love, and the joy he longs to pour into your life.
Each week includes a QR code linking to daily playlists and a short, encouraging video that makes it easy to fit prayer into your busiest moments—whether you’re folding laundry or wrangling a toddler into bed.
God is with you in every moment of motherhood. He’s ready to bring peace to your heart and joy to your days—even now in the mess. It’s time to reclaim your connection with him and discover the beauty of encountering God in the life you’re already living.
Advance Praise
"With this book, Jennifer leads us in a renewed discipline of prayer that isn’t chirpy or prescriptive. Our children are—all at once—our greatest joys and our greatest stressors, and in Sacred Chaos Jennifer speaks to this duality in a way that makes us feel seen and loved and encouraged. This three-week retreat meets us wherever we are in the midst of new responsibilities, evolving challenges, or hectic schedules and cheerleads us toward deeper intimacy with God. Whether we are sprinting forward with full lungs or barely inching along in a crawl, Jennifer’s wisdom and accompaniment points us to prayer with manageable instructions and practical advice. This book is such a gift. You will undoubtedly read it, reread it, and then give it to every mom you know."
From the foreword by Allison Sullivan, creator of the Sinner Saint Sister podcast
“This book is a balm to a weary mom’s soul, offering encouragement to take moments of quiet to reflect on all that motherhood entails. I loved it and am grateful it’s out in the world for moms, in every stage, to pray with.”
Katie Prejean McGrady
Host of The Katie McGrady Show on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel
“Jennifer Stavinoha draws from her degrees in theology and motherhood to deliver a retreat that is both spiritually transformative and infinitely relatable. I found myself nodding along and wishing I had read these words sooner. If you want to re-center your prayer life and encounter Christ in the chaos of motherhood, this book is for you. For anyone who has wondered why combining prayer and motherhood can feel so hard, this book is an encouraging road map to desiring prayer, encountering Christ, and rediscovering joy in your spiritual life.”
Kassie Manning
Cofounder of Every Sacred Sunday
“Sacred Chaos by Jennifer Stavinoha is a consoling and relatable read for Catholic moms aching to find balance in their prayer, motherhood, and the everyday demands of life. For those yearning to grow in their relationship with God while managing the chaos of family life, this book is an invaluable resource. Stavinoha gently helps readers approach the spiritual life through accessible yet deeply insightful reflections, seamlessly weaving in scripture and the rich traditions of the Church. Even as a husband and father, the practical wisdom found on these pages was encouraging for my own prayer life as I navigate the sacred messiness of parenthood. This would make a wonderful gift for your wife—just be sure to read it over her shoulder!”
Joshua Mazrin
Author of Led by the Immaculata and Founder of The Immaculata Institute
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9781646803958 |
PRICE | $15.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 128 |