10 Reasons Not to Give Up, Weary Mother
10) God is not giving up.
Just because we aren't capable of cleaning our whole house at once or showering and having Bible time in the same day, is no reason to throw in the towel. Being a mom can be tough, we struggle and we drop the ball sometimes, but God never stops working in us.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. " Philippians 1:6
9) There is new mercy for today.
Yesterday's laundry and garbage pile up at an alarming rate and bring along with them a certain stench. But don't be alarmed, the weight of his new mercies coming through each day is even stronger. His presence blows through, clearing any lingering rubbish from the past, and filling us with what we need for each day. He is here and He brought a fresh batch of undeserved goodness with Him.
"Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." Lamentations 3:23
8) His grace is sufficient.
If you put your shirt on backwards this morning and it took you more than two hours to notice the tag scratching at your throat and correct your error, you are not alone. Being a mom is overwhelming. When we have small children there isn't time to drink a cup of any hot beverage before it gets cold, But it's okay. God can work in the context of our mess, weakness is his favorite ingredient in his secret power sauce!
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. " 2 Corinthians 12:9
7) Suffering leads to hope.
When we get to walk with Jesus, he turns everything on it's head. Death is swallowed up in life, sickness in health, and fear in peace. He is the way, the truth and the life and he can turn even the most hopeless of ashes into something beautiful, every time.
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. " Romans 5:3-4
6) Joy is coming.
I'm not sure if this scripture is referring specifically to night time teething, but it certainly seems to apply. My four month old seems to have read it. He spends hours during the middle of the night weeping, and then turns to us, upon waking, each morning with a smile on his face and a gleam in his eye as if to say, "What's wrong with you people? I had a great night."
"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5
5) We know there is more to the story.
Looking around, we may see piles of unwashed laundry, dust bunnies hopping to and fro, children stained with markers and craft projects that cause the whole house to look like a Micheal's dumpster exploded in it. What can't be seen is love, security, and freedom. Generations of people will be impacted by the faithfulness poured out each day by moms wearing yoga pants and drinking cold coffee.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
4) We are loved.
Love is a pretty powerful force. They say red bull gives you wings, but I think a strong case could be made for love. God's love clings to us more tightly than the stretchiest part of our pre-baby skinny jeans. He is not letting go, we can't escape his love, and that is something to rest secure in.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
3) There is more grace.
Perhaps the greatest gift of being a mother of small children is the humility it brings. That sounds so nice and spiritual, but what it often looks like isn't pretty. It's a puke-covered, exploding diaper, "I can't find my child!" red-faced,"Who's child is this?", screaming tantrum, tears streaming down cheeks, "I don't know what to do", exhausted mess. And those are just the good days. They are good days because they are humbling, and there is grace.
"But he gives us more grace. That is why it says: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
2) We are hungry.
Have you ever felt the aching of your soul for something more? That is not a bad place to be because he is there waiting to fill us.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6
1) He will never leave.
We may struggle through seasons of feeling lonely, but we are never alone.
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
Just because we aren't capable of cleaning our whole house at once or showering and having Bible time in the same day, is no reason to throw in the towel. Being a mom can be tough, we struggle and we drop the ball sometimes, but God never stops working in us.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. " Philippians 1:6
9) There is new mercy for today.
Yesterday's laundry and garbage pile up at an alarming rate and bring along with them a certain stench. But don't be alarmed, the weight of his new mercies coming through each day is even stronger. His presence blows through, clearing any lingering rubbish from the past, and filling us with what we need for each day. He is here and He brought a fresh batch of undeserved goodness with Him.
"Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." Lamentations 3:23
8) His grace is sufficient.
If you put your shirt on backwards this morning and it took you more than two hours to notice the tag scratching at your throat and correct your error, you are not alone. Being a mom is overwhelming. When we have small children there isn't time to drink a cup of any hot beverage before it gets cold, But it's okay. God can work in the context of our mess, weakness is his favorite ingredient in his secret power sauce!
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. " 2 Corinthians 12:9
7) Suffering leads to hope.
When we get to walk with Jesus, he turns everything on it's head. Death is swallowed up in life, sickness in health, and fear in peace. He is the way, the truth and the life and he can turn even the most hopeless of ashes into something beautiful, every time.
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. " Romans 5:3-4
6) Joy is coming.
I'm not sure if this scripture is referring specifically to night time teething, but it certainly seems to apply. My four month old seems to have read it. He spends hours during the middle of the night weeping, and then turns to us, upon waking, each morning with a smile on his face and a gleam in his eye as if to say, "What's wrong with you people? I had a great night."
"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5
5) We know there is more to the story.
Looking around, we may see piles of unwashed laundry, dust bunnies hopping to and fro, children stained with markers and craft projects that cause the whole house to look like a Micheal's dumpster exploded in it. What can't be seen is love, security, and freedom. Generations of people will be impacted by the faithfulness poured out each day by moms wearing yoga pants and drinking cold coffee.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
4) We are loved.
Love is a pretty powerful force. They say red bull gives you wings, but I think a strong case could be made for love. God's love clings to us more tightly than the stretchiest part of our pre-baby skinny jeans. He is not letting go, we can't escape his love, and that is something to rest secure in.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
3) There is more grace.
Perhaps the greatest gift of being a mother of small children is the humility it brings. That sounds so nice and spiritual, but what it often looks like isn't pretty. It's a puke-covered, exploding diaper, "I can't find my child!" red-faced,"Who's child is this?", screaming tantrum, tears streaming down cheeks, "I don't know what to do", exhausted mess. And those are just the good days. They are good days because they are humbling, and there is grace.
"But he gives us more grace. That is why it says: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
2) We are hungry.
Have you ever felt the aching of your soul for something more? That is not a bad place to be because he is there waiting to fill us.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6
1) He will never leave.
We may struggle through seasons of feeling lonely, but we are never alone.
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
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