When Being a Mom is Hard
Mother’s Day is approaching soon, and if you’re a mom, you will most likely hear the words, “Happy Mother’s Day” spoken to you at some point. Although it’s a sweet sentiment, that phrase can be hard to hear for so many. The reality is, Mother’s Day isn’t exactly happy for everyone.
There are some of us who have grieved the loss of a mother. Some of you have grieved the loss of a child. Maybe there is an absence or a void concerning a relationship with a mother or possibly a child. Some of you may have a desire to be a mom but have experienced infertility. Some of you may be raising kids as a single mom and you are burnt out.
I think it’s good we have a special day set aside to honor our moms. Mothers deserve to be recognized for all that they do. So many things go unnoticed like cleaning the dirt off the floor that muddy boots have tracked in the house, or constantly having to clean the toilet rim if you have a little boy that loves his “squirt gun,” (you boy moms know what I’m talking about.) How about making an extra trip back up to the school because your teenager forgot their practice shoes at home, or how about continually serving your children after they have disrespected you over and over with their words and actions? Mothers can carry a lot of happiness, but also a lot of hurt and guilt. We are good at putting on masks, (not referring to our makeup or daily facial routines), but putting on a fake smile when inside our strength is failing us. I love the, “I’m good” or “I’m fine” response we give when someone asks us how we are doing after we have been wrestling our kids all morning. Moms are tired. Period. We need rest. Motherhood is far from easy and sometimes a little “thank you” every now and then wouldn’t hurt! Am I right? There are days I have wanted to throw my hands up and say, “I’m done.” I want to encourage moms today and give you hope. You can find rest, you can be refreshed. You can take the burdens that motherhood brings and lay them at the feet of Jesus to find peace and restoration that your soul longs for.
One mom that stands out in particular from the Bible is Hannah. Her desire was to mother a child but she suffered several years of barrenness. Because of Hannah’s barrenness, we see in 1 Samuel that Hannah experienced great sadness to the point where she didn’t want to eat. If you continue reading in the text you will see that Hannah wept bitterly, meaning she cried out in great anger and pain. You may not be a woman that has experienced barrenness, but I’m sure we can all relate to Hannah in some way, through her sadness, anxiety, depression, fear, grief, heartache, and bitterness. One thing that I love about Hannah is that she poured her soul out to the Lord through the midst of suffering. In 1 Samuel 1:15-16 We see Hannah reply to the priest who questions her about her drunkenness because he sees her lips moving, but no words are coming out. Hannah replies, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring my soul out before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety, and vexation.” So many women are battling anxiety, worry, fear, and depression every day, but are we taking those things to the Lord, or turning to other outlets to find relief? 1 Peter 5:7 is such a simple verse but one of my favorites. It says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for us.” It doesn’t say, “Cast some of your anxiety, but ALL.” Sometimes we think that God isn’t big enough to handle all of our problems, but that lie is from the enemy. We see in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” God is like, “Hello!! Remember me? Do you not know what I am capable of?”
Through Hannah’s story, we see that despite all of her pain, she still continued to seek the Lord. She poured her anxiety and worry out to Him. What comes next is my favorite part in this story. Verse 19 says, “And the Lord remembered her.” Hannah’s story turns out beautifully although you would have never guessed that while she was walking through so much turmoil. We so often want to throw our hands up and say, “I’m done!” Hannah couldn’t see the bigger picture of what the Lord was going to provide for her down the road. She eventually gives birth to a baby boy, Samuel. The Lord greatly blesses Hannah in His time and before her life is over, we see that Hannah has six children total. Whatever you are walking through, whether you are a mom or not, please know that just as the Lord remembered Hannah, the Lord remembers YOU. Jesus knows our questions, doubts, and fears as women, and as moms. Whatever burdens you are carrying, I encourage you to take them to the Lord.
Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you (moms/women) who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”