Homemaking in the Chaos: Finding Joy in our Work

Fall always seems to usher in a certain kind of chaos. The slower rhythms of summer quickly give way to a fuller calendar, heavier responsibilities, and demands coming from every direction. And while that’s true in every season and stage, I’ve been especially thinking about those of us who spend much of our time at home.

With everything ramping up, it’s a good time to remind ourselves that our work is good work. Even the mundane, quiet, behind-the-scenes work of keeping a home.

The world doesn’t usually look at stay-at-home women and picture hard work. In fact, I once heard an accusation that the stay-at-home woman “sat around all day watching soap operas and eating bonbons.”

Whether or not you’ve heard that exact phrase, I’m sure you’d agree—it’s insulting. Not only because soap operas are outdated and cheesy, but because it completely dismisses the real work done at home every single day.

Surely you’ve far surpassed the image of a bonbon-eating couch potato. But that doesn’t mean we’ve fully embraced the work of homemaking. And if we’ve followed our culture’s lead, we probably don’t value it the way God does. But thinking through it from His perspective will motivate us to give our best—and perhaps even find joy in it too.

No Couch Potatoes Here

In Titus 2, Paul lists several qualities that older women should pass on to the younger generation. One of them is being “workers at home.”

That phrase is important—because it leaves no room for couch potato living. Home is not a place of idleness, but a place of meaningful work.

When we picture “work,” we often think of office buildings, retail counters, or people in suits with briefcases. We imagine punching a time clock and chasing deadlines. But work happens in all sorts of places. And for you, much of that work is centered in the home.

(And for the woman who also works outside the home, she still manages work inside the home too—that’s double duty, but a topic for another day.)

Working at home can mean a lot of things. In short, it means juggling all the domestic tasks that keep a household running. And there are plenty of them—laundry, meals, errands, cleaning, and caring for people—all at once.

Embracing Your Work

You already know the workload is heavy. You already know laziness isn’t an option.

But sometimes, deep down, a quiet bitterness creeps in. A feeling that we should get to kick our feet up all day—that somehow, we’ve been cheated out of rest or ease.

The root of that frustration? We forget this is our actual job.

You’ve been called to work at home. To care for it. To keep it running for the good of your family. (Just think of the woman in Proverbs 31.) And here’s the reminder we all need: work is supposed to feel like work.

It’s tiring because it is work—and that’s okay.

No Grumbling

One phrase we say often in our home is: “No grumbling!”
It’s our shorthand for Philippians 2:14:

“Do all things without grumbling...”

I often say it to my kids—but the truth is, I need the reminder just as much as they do.

I need it when:

• I’m scrubbing soap scum off the shower walls

• I’m folding my 50th load of laundry

• I’m chasing toddlers around the living room

• I’m driving preteens across town in the summer heat

The daily tasks can feel endless and unglamorous. But that’s exactly when I need to remember: God calls me to do all things without grumbling.

Can you relate?

Even the repetitive, exhausting, and mundane parts of homemaking are part of your calling. And they’re meant to be done with joy and contentment—not irritation or complaint.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” —Colossians 3:23

Your Calling—and Privilege

Have you embraced your calling to be a “worker at home” (Titus 2:5)? If not, it’s time to see it as your God-given job—one to approach with faithfulness and excellence, just like any other job.

Our culture may not value the role of a stay-at-home woman. But God does. And that changes everything.

And don’t forget, this calling is also a privilege—because you get to serve the people you love most. These are the people you’d gladly lay down your life for. And in a sense, you do that very practically: packing lunches, making snacks, loading the car, answering the questions, and doing whatever else is needed.

Yes, it’s a lot. But the Lord equips you for whatever He calls you to.

So let’s serve our families and our homes well this week—with excellence and joy. And may we do it all heartily, as unto the Lord.