Why is it, as mothers, we compete against each other for the award of Most Exhausted Mom? Especially this time of year. No one gets an award for having the most jam packed christmas break schedule ladies.
Who gets less sleep? Who works longer hours? Who works outside the home? Who has to say home with their kids? Whose kids are the hardest to raise? When we compete like this, spoiler alert, we all lose. The world has a monopoly view of tired and exhausted moms. BUT.. this is a double negative becuae we can’t talk about how easy the day was either, or how great our kid was at their school event, or how well they listened in the grocery store, out of fear of looking “too good”. We are afraid people will think we are fake or hiding something. In reality, isn’t that the goal? To be more like Christ. To be patient and calm and holy?
But here is the reality, it’s hard to parent. It’s tiring. And it’s ok to be tired. Anyone who has ever had a child, at any age, knows what it means to be tired. But sister, let me tell you, it’s not a constant state. Motherhood looks different for different people in different seasons. We often think, “if I can just get out of the newborn stage”, or “when she sleeps through the night it will be better”. However, tired looks different for different people in different seasons. One thing that is constant and does not change is the fact that your Father sees you in every single one of those seasons and is there with you.
My youngest is currently 9 months old, and recently he had a very sleepless night because he was not feeling well at all, and he would only sleep if I was holding him. I tried countless times to rock him to sleep, then put him down in his crib and over and over he woke up each time I laid him down. Finally, I gave up on “sleep training” and slept on the couch holding him. The kind of rest he felt in my arms was undeniable. He was so peaceful and felt so secure. He was able to truly rest because he knew I had him in my arms and he would be ok.
We can find that same rest in the arms of our Father. As believers we have the strength and endurance of the Holy Spirit in us. We can find rest and peace in the heart of Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can be that example to our children, to our spouse, and to our friends. Yes, parenting is tiring. Parenting is downright exhausting; however, we must find our rest in the Lord and then we must demonstrate that rest in our actions and reactions.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted in your parenting walk, ask your Father God for rest and peace. You will find it in His arms. He wants you to run to Him. He wants to hold you. Find your rest in Jesus and stop competing for the award of “Most Tired Mom”.
Bible Verse: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Something to think about: Have you made sleep an idol in your life? Do you look to sleep as the solution to your problem? What should you be looking to instead?
Prayer: Father, I’m tired. Help me to find true rest in you. Give me peace and contentment in your plan for me, in this stage of life I am in right now, in this very moment. Open my eyes and my heart to see your arms open to me. Help me to feel your embrace. Put women in my life who can help support my walk with you and encourage me as a tired mom. Show me women I can help support in their tired moments.
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