"The Shelter of His Wings: How God Found Me in a FEMA Trailer" by Alexis Vinson

Sacred Stories Pt. 1 - A testimony series for mothers by mothers walking through burnout, rebuilding, and renewal with God.

A Note From The Editor:
Sacred Stories is a new series here on The Selah Project. I created this space so others can lend their voices and share their real journeys through hard seasons and how God met them there. Burnout looks different for every person, and I do not want my voice to be the only one heard in this magazine.

You may not relate to every part of my testimony, but I hope you will see pieces of your own story reflected in the lives of the moms who bravely share here. My prayer is that, as you read, you will be reminded that God is at work not only in their lives but in yours as well.

I also pray this series becomes a double-edged source of encouragement for both the women sharing their stories and the women reading them.

Thank you for being here.

-Sarah

I used to think that “alignment” was something you achieved through hard work and a clean planner. I thought if I just tried harder, I could outrun the chaos. But three years ago, God took me into a season of such profound emptiness that I finally had to stop running.

My journey into motherhood didn’t start with a nursery and a rocking chair. It started with a scramble. When my first daughter was born, we were essentially homeless. We didn’t get into an apartment until she was two weeks old. Before I could even catch my breath or heal from the birth, I saw those two pink lines again. I was pregnant with my second daughter.

That second pregnancy felt like a marathon run in sand. My body was failing me. At the end, I was so weak I could barely stand. When she decided to come, she came fast—premature and determined. I remember the frantic drive to the hospital, hitting the doors just ten minutes before she was born. She was a miracle, healthy and whole, but I was becoming a ghost of myself.

Then, the world literally fell apart. Hurricane Ian tore through our lives, taking our apartment and our sense of safety with it. Suddenly, I was a mother of two babies under two, living in a tiny, cramped FEMA trailer. Then my partner lost his job.

There were days in that trailer where the walls felt like they were physically closing in on me. We had no vehicle. I was trapped in a few hundred square feet with two crying babies, my own body aching, and a mind that was spiraling into a dark, suffocating postpartum depression. I was physically spent, mentally burnt out, and spiritually dry. I felt like I was failing everyone—my children, my partner, and myself.

It was in that trailer, at my absolute lowest, that I found out I was pregnant with my son.

I’ll be honest: I didn’t feel joy at first. I felt broken. I felt like I couldn’t possibly give any more because I was already empty. But that “breaking” was exactly where the Lord met me.

With nowhere to turn and no strength left to fake it, I began to seek Him. Not just a “Sunday-morning” seek, but a “Lord, if You don’t save me, I’m going under” kind of seek. I started a deep spiritual journey in that cramped trailer. I began to ask for His will, not mine. I surrendered the hustle and the worry.

And He rescued me.

He didn’t just give us a new apartment right before my son was born—though He did do that, and it felt like walking into a palace. He did something deeper: He restored my soul.

He taught me that I couldn’t pour from an empty cup. He led me back to the kitchen to cook balanced meals, not just as a chore, but as an act of worship for the body He gave me. He gave me the discipline to build routines to exercise and regain the physical strength I had lost through three back-to-back pregnancies.

Most importantly, He taught me that my “Legacy” isn’t about how much I can do for my kids—it’s about who I am with them because of Him.

Today, my foundation isn’t my business or my systems. It’s the quiet time I spend with Him every single morning. He took me from a place of suffocation and brought me into a large place. I am living proof that no matter how small your space or how deep your depression, God is bigger, and He is waiting to bring you into alignment with the beautiful life He planned for you all along.

---

Scripture

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18

Reflection For The Reader
Where have you seen God meet you in your lowest place?

Closing Note
Stories like this remind us that burnout is not the end of our story. Sometimes it is the very place where God begins rebuilding us. If Alexis’s testimony encouraged you, consider sharing it with another mom who may need hope today. If you would like to have your story featured, please send an email to sarah@bysarahsmith.com

*If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.