For The Mom Who Is Having A Hard Day

She wants to be thankful. She knows how blessed she is. She remembers how she longed for and dreamt of the day she’d become a mother… It’s not lost on her what a gift it is. She loves the Lord and delights in inviting Him into her home and her heart. Her deepest desire is for her children to know and love Jesus. She prays daily she gets to be their first example of The Father’s love. She prays for patience, gentleness and joy in raising her babies. Her kitchen is her sanctuary. She worships, she dances, she prays fervently for her family. She calls herself blessed.

AND…today she’s tired. She’s angry. Her head hurts. She’s short tempered with her husband, she’s hormonal and irritated by her baby's cry. She’s overwhelmed by the dishes piling up in the sink. She ponders all the kitchens she sees when she scrolls…beautiful, clean kitchens, cared for by moms who clearly can balance it all in an effortless way she can’t comprehend. The enemy whispers in her ear “It’s only you.” “You can’t handle it.” “A real christian mom wouldn’t struggle like this.”

“It’s only you.” 

Confession; I was this mom yesterday. Not only did I feel everything I just described, but I let the enemy’s voice shame me into thinking it’s only me. And friends, that is dangerous territory. When shame creeps in, we tend to hide. Feelings that stay hidden in the dark will spiral you. Shame isolates you. 

 Often when I know I’m not handling things as I should, I lean out. Too often I think, God doesn’t want to hear from me right now. I’ll pray when I can have something positive to say. I’ll pray when I’m worthy again, when I’m calm again, when I’m joyful again…

But yesterday I made the decision to pray for the Lord to be near in the middle of the chaos. In the middle of my migraine. In the middle of my anger, my tears, and frankly, my sin. I invited Him into the ugliness because He’s there whether we bring it willingly or not! Period. 

Psalm 139:7

“Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

He’s already with us…simply waiting for us to step out of the darkness and isolation of shame and into the light! I didn’t bring The Lord into this moment because I earned it; because I wiped my tears and got a better attitude. I brought Him in because thanks to His stunning work on the cross, thanks to His grace, I am made clean. Even in the ugliness of that moment, I knew He already forgave me. 

There is freedom in inviting Him into your day, in the middle of it all. Not after you clean up your act (although confession and repentance are also essential gifts) but IN the middle of it. 

Something beautiful happened when I invited Him in. I blasted worship music through my tears, I went on a prayer walk with my son…my head was still pounding but my heart was filled with The Lord's peace. He refreshed my soul. 

I felt the Lord nudge me to share this day on social media, even though it wasn’t wrapped in a bow. As a girl who loves to have it all together, I will admit I don’t love sharing tough things until I’m on the other side of them. It feels vulnerable. I love to encourage, but when I am the one in need of encouragement, I’m not so comfy. But in obedience, when my son went down for a nap, I posted about my tough day. I still had a migraine, and I still had a lot of day ahead of me. There was no bow. But I felt the Lord invite me into honesty, to break me free of the shame and isolation. 

When I tell you the MOMENT I hit post, my migraine was GONE. No exaggeration. Completely healed. I hadn’t even prayed for healing! (my bad!) and yet in a moment of obedience, my headache was healed. 

The coolest part was what came after. A call from a friend, making sure I was okay. Encouraging texts from incredible mom friends. “Coffee on me, you got this!” messages…DM’s from other mothers who suffer from migraines. It turns out it’s not only me. We all have these days. Praise God it’s not every day! Praise God His mercies are new every morning. 

For the mom who resonates with every word of this, I want you to know I see you, and far more importantly Your Heavenly Father sees you. He’s not mad at you, He’s not disappointed in you, and He made You a mother because you’re meant to be one. Even on the hard days. 

Invite the Lord into your mess. Invite friends in so they can speak truth over you and remind you you’re not alone. Accept the love of the Father even when you don’t “deserve” it (newsflash, we couldn’t if we tried!) and accept your friends blessings even when you have nothing to give in return. 

Be encouraged, mom. You’re doing amazing. 

Lord Jesus, I thank you for the hard days, because they remind me of Your grace. I repent for my sins; for the times I was short tempered, frustrated or full of complaints. Continue to grow me in humility, and guide me in asking my husband and my children for forgiveness when I inevitably fall short. May I reject the lies of the enemy, and rebuke the whispers of shame he throws at me. Clothe me in Your divine truth. Give me the courage to open my heart up to others, so I can remember we aren’t meant to walk this life alone. I love you and worship you. Amen