Dear Christian Mother Who Feels Like Giving Up,
Your tired. Not just lack-of-sleep tired, but mentally, physically, and spiritually tired. Every day you wake up you think of the verse “This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” You try to put on a smile, but you feel defeated before your feet even hit the floor and you wish you could just lay in bed with the blankets pulled up over your head and put up a sign that says, “Out of Service”. But mothers don’t have vacation days so you plead for strength and grace for another long day. Some days you feel so alone and that no one else understands the weight upon your shoulders. You have meals to prepare, faces to wash, diapers to change, lessons to be taught, floors to be swept, laundry to be washed and put away, children to love and train, and a husband who wants some undivided attention. Not to mention all of the unforeseen events and other demands from friends/family that need your care. On top of this you are fighting a very real unforeseen spiritual battle that is waging war and seeking to steal, kill, and destroy your family. The devil comes in and whispers lies telling you that your failing as a mother and that your children would be better off without you raising them. He also points his accusing finger and reminds you of all the times you’ve failed in the last week and that you are nothing but a hypocrite who will raise children that hate God. He tells you that all your years of faithful endurance and dedication has been in vain. If you listen to these lies you will quickly find yourself in the pit of despair wondering how in the world you even got to this place. As you focus on sin and self you will begin to think your sins are too big for God to forgive. The ungratefulness, the complaining and murmuring spirit, the hasty words thrown out as spears, the covetous heart that longs for an easy-care-free life. You are tempted to feel discontentment as you see all your friends busy making Pinterest crafts while you are there in that squeaking rocking chair attempting to comfort a teething baby that wont let you sit her down for a. single. second. You can barely find the time to eat your bowl of cold oatmeal. You’ve always been the one to tell others about the love and mercy of Jesus, but find it so hard to claim and believe the same message for yourself. Every time you turn on the news you hear the media screaming at you about hatred, violence, and turmoil. The love of most has indeed grown cold, ice-cold. Not only do you face ridicule from the ungodly who scoff and hate God, but you are ridiculed and mocked by those claiming the Name of Christ, but refuse to depart from iniquity. They know the Word of God, but refuse to submit to it. They tell you that you are a legalist and that your convictions only lead to bondage. The believe they are free in Christ to love, act, dress, and imitate the world. The say they believe adultery, murder, and saying God’s Name in vain is sin, but they watch movies, listen to music, and read literature that condones it. It hurts to feel excluded by those you love and are tempted at times to be like them so you can feel included. Their lives sometimes appear so care free since they rarely take anything seriously and everything is a joking matter. Its not easy being a christian mother these days and it never has been nor will be. I know there are days that you’ve had enough and your only wish is for one single day without any troubles or care. I’ve been there. Not once, but many times throughout the years, and I want you to know that it does get better. It wont always be this way. Before you run to anti-depressants first- run to Jesus. Many times whenever I start to feel like my glass is half empty instead of half full it is times that I’ve let my private time with the Lord slip. I’m not only talking about spending time in God’s Word daily, which is essential, but time spent alone in prayer. Tell God how you feel. He already knows it anyhow. He wants you to be the One you run to when you’re to weak to go on. Here is a list of things I try to remember when I find myself discouraged and defeated.
Nothing worth having comes easy.
If anyone tries to tell you that raising children is easy then they are either lying or they don’t spend the majority of their time with their children.
Your trials, your tiredness, your cranky baby, your messy house, your differences with your husband, will not endure forever. But your God will! Every trial that you face will eventually end. Even Job’s trials didn’t last a lifetime.
No one’s life is easy.
Everyone has difficulties- even your friends on Facebook. Life really isn’t just one big vacation and days spent making Pinterest crafts. It isn’t, really! People only post the things in their life that they want other to see. Facebook= Fakebook.
Your children would not be better off without you.
God gave each and every whiny, teething, drooling, strong-willed, house demolisher to you. They are yours. Your responsibility. Not your mothers, not the schools, not the daycare. You should be their primary care provider if at all possible. God wants you to be their #1 encourager, belly nourisher, snot wiper, diaper changer, and heart trainer. They don’t need a perfect mother, just a mother who will love them like no one else can.
There is a season for everything under the sun.
We can be surrounded by 10 children and still feel lonely. You may feel like you are up to your ears in diapers and you spend your days dreaming about the day that your screaming colicky gremlin will turn into a smiling bundle of joy. But it wont be long before that baby will soon outgrow your lap and you will give anything to be in the very moment that you spent months wishing you were out of. If you don’t like the season you are in , just blink. It will be over soon enough. This too shall pass.
Every. Faithful. Work. You have ever done in His Name will be rewarded. Look at your right hand and say a word for every finger… “You. Did. It. Unto. Me.” Remember that every time your serving turns to drudgery. Journey on, Mother! No work done for Him is in vain!
Repent, confess, and forsake those sins.
Your sins may appear to out number the stars in the sky, but God’s love and mercy will never run dry. Sin brings death, guilt, condemnation, fear, and despair. Throw them off and allow His blood to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. You preach to others about His love and forgiveness so accept it for yourself.
Stop being surprised by all your trials, hardships, and the evil you see rising up in this world. God’s Word told you it would be this way. All those who desire to live godly will suffer persecution. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19
Start speaking life.
The words you speak have power and reveals what kingdom you belong to. Instead of speaking words of doubt, fear, defeat, and despair, speak words of faith, Truth, hope.
What kingdom do your words show you belong to?
Stop trying to win the approval of the ungodly. Stop trying to be accepted.
God’s Word tells those who love God to hate evil. As the end draws to a close we will find ourselves persecuted not only from the ungodly heathen, but by the apostate church that has turned God’s grace into a license to sin. They will hate you because you choose to follow the way of righteousness. If you want to offend others:
*Be a keeper of the home.
* Love and submit to your husband
* Love your children
* Abstain from worldly lusts and entertainment
* Have personal convictions that are different from others
* Dress modestly
God’s Word says we will be hated by all for His Name’s Sake.
If the world loves you then perhaps you are not much different than the world.
“Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers treated the prophets in the same manner.” Luke 6:22-23
Don’t give up.
Faithfully endure- one. day. at. a. time. Victory is found in Jesus. He loves you, He upholds you when everything seems to be spiraling out of control. God is faithful. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Meditate daily upon His Word. Remember how he has delivered you in the past and that He will continue to deliver you in the future if you trust in Him. You have a Refuge that you can turn to when you feel you have no where else to turn- you can be surrounded by the sound of screaming children and teething babies, but be found at rest in Christ. He is Your Hiding Place in times of trouble.
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the Lord will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Isaiah 41:17-18
Don’t give up sweet mother. May the Lord give you strength, long suffering, hope, and joy in the midst of your difficulties as you love and serve your family in Christ’s Name.
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