Hope For a Tired Mommy 

For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 2 Corinthians 1:8

Sometimes that’s what parenting feels like. The day in and day out can cause a mommy to despair of life itself. It is an ongoing struggle, a continuing trial. “The days are long but the years are short” the saying goes, but you know you are waking up to another long day tomorrow.

Just to be clear, I love being a mommy. I love my children. I wouldn’t trade this hard life for anything. But the reality is that I’m brought to tears more days than not.

I think this is some of what Paul talks about when he says, “the unmarried… woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things” (1 Corinthians 7:34). These “worldly things” include not just our husband, but our children, the grocery budget, the laundry, the calendar, all the things that we are responsible for doing to keep our home functioning.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Lately I’ve found myself searching for something to make my life easier. I cried to God and my husband that I just need help! The truth is, I do have that help. If I was to have myself come to me for counsel (I counsel women and some of their circumstances aren’t too different from my own) what would I say?

I would pull out the Bible and point to Christ and the power of His gospel. Changing my circumstances isn’t the answer. Sure a few changes in our schedule and a play date here and there are good, but I can’t find my hope and salvation in an easier, more comfortable life. There will be many trials in life. Some of them I just have no power over at all. The Bible has a lot to say about trials.
God wonderfully uses trials to transform His children. What He teaches us is worth being joyful over. And at the end of life, after all these trials that God allows in my life, I will be complete in Him, not lacking anything.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence 2 Peter 1:3

God has a purpose and plan to use a disobedient two-year-old and a teething 8 month old to conform me more into His will. There is a reason why days are hard. God is offering me divine power to handle everything that life has to offer.

But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10

Outside of Christ, I was in darkness and unable to manage in life, but Christ gave me a new life. He lived the perfect life of complete obedience on God that I never could. He has taken all my sin, all my despair, all my mommy failures, all my anger, all my worry, all my fear and nailed it to the cross. He has given me eternal life, how can I not trust Him to give me strength to potty train? How can I not trust Him to provide the energy I need to walk the floor with a crying baby?
God has delivered me and He will deliver me. He brings me to points where I despair because I can’t make it on my own anymore. Praise the Lord that He is teaching me to not rely on myself but on Him. He has the power to raise the dead to life, He has the power to help a tired mommy make it through the day.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I can stand in confidence (even if my hair hasn’t been washed in 3 days) knowing that God’s grace is sufficient to help me in my time of need. God is my strength and my shield, a very present help in trouble.