KALEY RIVERA THOMPSON
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Welcome to Season 3 of
​Miracle in the Mess

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Welcome to Miracle in the Mess with Kaley Rivera Thompson! Here, we’re serving up Biblical thoughts and on-the-go devotionals in five minutes or less. These short moments can lead to big breakthroughs with God. There are miracles in the mess if we’ll just take this short moment to look for them. 

Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

How Do We Adult Well? | Trading Shiny Success for a Gritty, God-Centered Life

8/18/2025

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​I recently hopped on social media to ask for podcast and blog ideas. Funnily enough, I only got one response. But I loved it so much that I’m kicking off our fall Hermana Blog and season three of the Miracle in the Mess Podcast with it.

The suggestion? “How do we adult well?”

Honestly, the older I get, the less sure I feel about adulting. In my twenties, I probably would’ve rattled off a quippy, self-help-sounding line like: “Health and wealth in adulthood are found in soul rest and deep relationships.” Or maybe even something peppy like: “Don’t pause your dreams—your best adult self shows up when you chase your God-given calling!”

Cute, right? But not raw. True-ish? Sure. Practical? Nope.

If we were sitting down for coffee and you asked me this question, I’d give you a much simpler answer:

We adult well by thinking less about ourselves and more about God and others.
​We adult well by thinking less about ourselves and more about God and others.

1. Adulting Isn’t About Me
In America, turning 18 makes you “officially” an adult—you can vote, work, serve your country. But the way culture frames adulthood is almost entirely about me. “What do YOU want to do?” “Who do YOU want to become?”
But what if that’s the wrong question?

The better one is: “How can I best serve others with the gifts God has given me?”
When we pinpoint our giftings, the goal isn’t to ask, “What can I do for me?” but “How can I use this for the good of others and the glory of God?”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” (Colossians 3:23–24)

2. Get Brutally Honest About What You’re Good At (and What You’re Not)

Here’s a hard truth: you’re not good at everything. And that’s okay.
Adulting well means owning your strengths and weaknesses. When we try to be everything for everyone, we burn out. But when we lean into our God-given talents and set healthy boundaries, we thrive—not just for ourselves but for our families, workplaces, and communities.
That’s maturity. That’s adulting.

3. Shift From “Me” to “We”

Marriage and parenthood shoved me face-to-face with my selfishness. Maybe you’ve felt that too? Suddenly, it’s not about your wants, your sleep, or your schedule—it’s about compromise, sacrifice, and building something bigger than yourself.
In the early months of motherhood, almost every personal need took a backseat. And yet, no one told me to quit because it was too hard. That breaking—that sacrificing—was also bonding and beautiful.

I’ve learned to pause and ask:
  • “Does God want this for me, or do I just want it for me?”
  • “Does this benefit others, or is it a selfish desire I’m chasing for my own glory?”
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When our lives shift from me to we, we begin walking in real purpose.

4. Trade the Shiny for the Salty

My favorite adults aren’t the flashy ones. They’re the salt of the earth people. They’re not chasing applause, fame, or trends. They’re the ones who show up with grit, humility, and integrity—whether anyone notices or not.
Jesus called us to be salt, not sparkle. Shiny fades fast, but salty endures. Salt preserves. Salt flavors. Salt seeps into the everyday.
The adults I admire most are the ones who live with quiet faithfulness. Their secret lives with Jesus shine brighter than any spotlight ever could.

5. Keep Growing Into the Image of Christ

Here’s my confession: I’m no expert in adulting. Most days, I’m building the “maturity plane” while I’m flying it.

But here’s what I’ve learned (mostly the hard way):
  • Be brutally honest about your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Think less about yourself and far more about God and others.
  • Don’t fall for the shiny—embrace the gritty, salty life.

Micah 6:8 sums it up perfectly:
“To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

We adult well not by perfecting ourselves, but by looking more like Jesus—servants, healers, hope-bringers, intentional moment-makers.

A Question for You
So, how do we adult well? We grow into the image of Christ. We learn to say, “Here you are” instead of “Here I am.”

What’s one area of your adult life where God is asking you to think less about yourself and more about Him and others?

Drop it in the comments, or bring it up over coffee with a friend this week. And if you want to dive deeper, tune in to season three of the Miracle in the Mess Podcast.

Let’s adult well—together.
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    Author

    Kaley Rivera Thompson is an author, copywriter, Bible teacher, speaker, and worship leader. When she's not championing other women, cheering on the rising generation, writing or playing her guitar, Kaley loves to sip strong coffee, go on hikes, or take a day trip to the mountains with her family. She takes the most pride in being a mom to three little girls, Lina, Lili and Ceci. You can follow her on instagram at @kriverathompson or find out more on her website at kriverathompson.com.

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