Dear Tired and Weary Mom,

Last night I failed as a mother for my children.  I was short when kindness needed to escape my lips.  I spoke sharply when gentility needed to be my crown.  I cried when joy and gratitude would have salved my soul.  I pointed fingers when grace would have reflected my heart’s desire.
Sometimes the trenches of motherhood can be overwhelming to our weary souls.  I am right there with you.  I laid in bed crying to the Lord in the misery of my failures.  “Abba!  How can I even attempt to write words of encouragement and help to teach other moms anything about biblical mothering when I am such an abysmal failure in showing grace, Your love, and mercy?  Remove this burden from me, and let me not be tied to it any more.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28

But, He continued to provoke my soul to want to speak.  He continued to press you onto my heart.  He continued to reveal that we need each other in these trenches, to know that we are not alone, and that no “voice” in the midst of the internet voices is flawless, or has it all together, no matter what snapshot of their reality you get glimpses of each day.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” ~ Psalm 62:1

Ladies…friends, we are walking this path together.  You are NOT alone in your mothering struggles.  Every mother carries their own burden and trial that they are working through and learning from.
But most importantly, God knows the difficulties you face each day.  It is not His heart to stand over you with a checklist of rights and wrongs, marking you accordingly and grading you each day, for “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1).
This is not to say that no condemnation equates to giving up in our efforts for trying and working towards holiness.  By no means!  We are still called according to His Word, to live by the Spirit and work death to the flesh, practicing dying to self and living a life fully obedient to Him.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” ~ Galatians 6:9

One day at a time, one moment at a time, we must choose to place one step in front of the other and work out our salvation “with fear and trembling.”

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” ~ Philippians 2: 12-16

And remember to turn to Him who strengthens us, upholds us, and lifts us up when we are downtrodden.  The weight of motherhood was never meant to be carried on our backs, but worn on our hearts to refine and purify our souls.  It is God alone who will help us through each day’s troubles.
On the days of success and victory, we must give praise to Him who empowered us to thrive!  On the days of sadness and adversity, we must cry out to Him who brings us out of the valley of despair.  One day at a time, one moment at a time, we must live and die for Him.
To God be the Glory as we hike along through the trenches of motherhood…one muddy step at a time.