Being a mother is hard.
We are called to model ourselves after Mary, Christ’s mother, who surrendered to God so completely that she gave the ultimate sacrifice, second only to Jesus’s own—the accepted loss of her child for God’s glory.
We’re human, though, and sometimes we struggle with what’s asked of us. We’re pulled in multiple directions, and sometimes, we don’t have strong support networks.
We bear the weight of overloaded schedules, behavioral issues, and financial constraints, wondering how we will pay for needed food or medicine or balance work with the mental load of remembering which child is refusing to eat peas this week and who’s outgrown their winter coat.
We may know intellectually that motherhood is one of God’s most dignified gifts. We’ve assisted in creating life and living that miracle every day.
But sometimes we’re just tired.
Even Jesus’s Mother Had to Help
We know that Mary said yes to God. We don’t know how often she may have questioned or raged at Him, how often she cried in despair, or whether she doubted. She may have done all or none of these things.
We know that she received special graces to carry out the arduous task before her. It wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
God gave Mary the tools to fulfill her mission, just as He makes His gifts available to us for our motherhood vocations.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:8
How can we find God’s grace in times of discouragement?
Pray without Ceasing
When exhausted, it’s easier to zone out to a streaming service than to turn to prayer. We may tell ourselves that we’ll spend more time with God when not stretched thin.
The truth is that prayer is our energy. Prayer makes it possible to tackle those daunting tasks because it connects us to the very source of life. Putting it off will only make you more tired tomorrow.
Pray constantly.
If you’re too depleted for formal prayer time, lift your heart to God throughout the day, even if it’s just a desperate cry from your soul:
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Romans 8:26
Don’t put prayer off. It’s air; it’s food. It’s our lifeblood. Pray.
God Wants Us to Rest—in Him
Moms are constantly admonished to practice self-care: enjoy that uninterrupted cup of coffee, take that yoga class, and get your nails done. While those practices are temporarily delightful, the real healing flows when we mentally and spiritually rest in God—when we bring Him our burdens to bear, trusting Him to work them out according to His perfect will.
If our child has a problem, don’t we trip over ourselves to ease that discomfort? Wouldn’t we walk through traffic to spare them a moment’s pain?
God feels this way about us:
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? . . . How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:9-11
Jesus urges us to come to Him with everything:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
If any Bible verse applies to modern motherhood, it’s this one. (Weary? Burdened? Check.) But our Lord simply says That weight looks heavy. Let me carry it for you.
Just as prayer can bring energy and life, resting in God can bring peace of spirit.
God Is Stronger than Our Challenges
Above all, take heart. Jesus has already conquered death (John 16:33). Nothing we’re going through is too much for Him. He wants to bear all our burdens—and He can. Let’s let Him.
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