May 2024

happy mother’s day

It’s here once again! Today, whether you are young or old, mama to one or many, I pray you feel loved, cherished and valued. Who you are is so vitally important. You have a unique and special place in this world and in the hearts of your children. I believe the Lord is raising up a generation of mamas who are saying “no” to cultural norms and raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It is a sacred and holy calling to be a Godly mother. What an honor and privledge! I hope this post encourages you in your faith and motherhood journey.

Since I became a mom 8 years ago, I feel like a completely different person. That 22 year old didn’t know what she was going to experience. I kinda laugh thinking about her! It was always my dream to have lots of babies, and now they are here and running all over the place! The journey has been full of learning curves, surprises and growth. What a ride!

Between figuring out breastfeeding, sleeping, handling blowouts, spit up,and a plethora of other “baby” things, we mamas really learn a lot in the first weeks and months. I remember sitting in our nursery rocking chair wondering how many hours of my life had been spent there nursing.

Seemingly, back then, it didn’t “feel” like I was accomplishing anything. The sink was piled with pump parts and bottles, the diapers were overflowing the garbage (doesn’t take long, am I right?), the to-do list was unchecked and the text messages weren’t returned. When you’re in that newborn phase of life, it just feels like time is paused. You’re left wondering how the day will go with a few hours of sleep. Now that I have been through that 6 times, I can say it truly is such a “blip” of a season, and of their life. (And one that I now treasure and adore)

It’s surreal now to have kids that can read, and talk like adults. I’m sure each stage feels rather surreal and I’m excited to experience each one.

Like so many women, I have often asked the “how am I” question in motherhood. How am I doing spiritually and emotionally? Whether it’s the newborn season, toddler phase, or raising elementary age kids, how is Briana actually doing? If I actually have the courage to explore that question in my mind, I think a lot of times the answer is “tired”,“spent”, and a lot of “actually I don’t know”.

My personality tends to be very“put your head down and paddle” type. If that’s even a thing. I can crush a to-do list and make my house come into submission in a cleaning fervor. A lof of that is gifting from the Lord, combined with a personality who thrives off order and organization. Which I’m thankful for! I’m glad about how God made me, BUT this has sometimes become a hindrance in my spiritual growth. How is she actually doing? On the outside, all the things look like they are getting done, but how is her soul?

I recently read something describing personalities like mine, and they said “you might like to push away emotions/abstract things and rather focus on the practical stuff”. Bingo! And in motherhood, I definetly think I have often pushed my spiritual growth and my relationship with the Lord to the side at times until “I could get to it”. Why? Simply put, maybe because that progess and value is abstract. I can’t see it like I can see a beautifully cleaned room or an empty laundry basket. But, what God is doing on the inside is SO much more important than those things. Although they are abstract, they appear in our lives each day as fruit. I want to choose to grow first.

Philippians 2:13- “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.”

2 Peter 1:5- “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 73:26- “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

So, why then, do I push it to the side so often? Yes, I read my Bible daily, because I have established that habit. But do I pray continually? Do I commune with the Lord daily? Am I recognizing Him as the source for my life?

renew

Recently, I was talking to a few dear friends about the concept of “renewal” with the Lord. They were sharing their hearts about how God had reminded them that HE is where true rest and renewal are found. It got me thinking about how many times I choose something else to fill my heart when I am weary. Maybe I turn on a YouTube video while I’m folding laundry. I scroll Instagram reels looking to relax and laugh. I text a friend, or take a bath. (All the above things are absolutely ok to do btw!!)

I know in my head that true rest comes from Him, but am I going there first and foremost? Where does God fit into this picture?

Matthew 5:6- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Colossians 1:10- “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Psalm 1:1-3- “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

If I truly desire to take care of my spirit and grow, I have to go back to the source of all life and renewal. Then I will be like a tree planted by streams of water and bear good fruit.

Matthew 11:28-30- “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jeremiah 31:25- “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

Psalm 23:2-3- “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

Isaiah 40:28-31- “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

So friends, what are the things you go to for rest and renewal? I am encouraged to first seek the Lord and receive rest that actually satisfies my tired soul. We go, go, go and there comes a time when we must quiet ourselves and receive from Him. He is truly our best friend. He is a good good Father- who will never leave us high and dry. He is so faithful!

growing in prayer

One thing I have been challenged to start up again is prayer journaling. At our church’s recent women’s retreat, we received a guided prayer journal. I resisted the guilty feeling threatening to take away from that teaching, and really endeavored to grow in this area. Part of that renewal process is praying, and making talking with God something like breathing. He so desires us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Even if you aren’t a journaler, you can have a deeply rich prayer life. I believe that when we start down these paths of spiritual growth, we see that it just gets sweeter and sweeter.

1 Thess 5:16- “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

1 Chron. 16:11- “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”

a word about anxiety and worry

Before I close this post, I felt led to write some encouragement surrounding anxiety. I think it’s safe to say that we all have countless opportunities to worry as moms. Right now, I could rattle off 7 things that I’m tempted to worry about. I’ve also incorrectly believed that once all those things got “solved” then I wouldn’t have to worry about anything else. The truth is, there will never be a lack of things to have anxiety over. The Bible clearly tells us that while living on this earth, we will experience trials. Things won’t go as planned. People will make mistakes. Loved ones will do things that cause us to worry. And the list goes on and on. What are we supposed to do?!

1 Peter 5:7- “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Hebrews 4:15- “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

John 16:23- “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Phil 4:6-7- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

James 1:2-4- “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.”

Romans 5:3-5- “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

1 Peter 4:12-13- “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

Romans 8:35- “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

Reading all this Scripture just ignites faith in me. Name your fears and anxiety. Bring it to the feet of Jesus! He can handle anything- He already knows your thoughts! He cares more for you than you could even imagine. Sometimes, I let my fears take over. I give no place for God to be God and do what only He can do. My friend, Jesus wants to relieve you of your worry. Trust in Him. Peace is possible!

Isaiah 26:3- “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Romans 15:13- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

I hope you are encouraged to take the next step in your relationship with Jesus- whatever that looks like for you. My prayer for you is that you seek Him first above all the other things clamoring for your attention and energy. Mamas, He is where true life, hope, renewal, and peace are found. Happy Mother’s Day!