Motherhood’s got me feeling like a driving student with limited experience traveling way too fast in the dark while it’s raining on the road of life. You know, the drives that you have your high beams set, your hands are on “ten and two” and your eyes are laser focused on the road. As the rain is pelting down you are doing your very best to stay within your yellow lines and avoid the potholes. Then of course the oncoming traffic breaches the horizon with their high beams and as they continue closer they forget to turn them off. You can’t see a thing and your left with two options. Despair in your inability to see, or remind yourself of the good advice your Driving Instructor gave you. “Faithfully focus your attention to that steadfast, constant, solid white line on your right and trust that it will help you stay the course no matter what the other driver does. It is the only thing you can see in the darkness.”
So, honestly I wanted to write this blog post really general and unspecific but I’m just going to be real here, because the devil lies to us all and tells us that we are the only one who struggles with _________. He keeps us believing those lies so that we avoid community, relationships, and rest and he wants to keeps us paralyzed instead of furthering God’s Kingdom for eternity. We keep people at a distance because it feels “safe”. That way others can’t see the icky ugly parts of us, our families, all our flaws and our weakness. But the reality is that we ALL need Jesus in a BIG way.
Wednesday was a really hard Mom day for me. I was not only discouraged and consumed by my sin and unkind tone, I was consumed by my children’s sin and need for Jesus! It was so dark and all of our sin was like the rain pouring down (like in the drive I mentioned above). I found myself overwhelmed by this rain storm and I was literally in my bathrobe under my covers while the kids watched Despicable Me 2 in the living room at 2pm instead of schooling.
You guys!!! I forgot. I forgot to fight. I forgot to take every thought captive so I could walk in obedience. I forgot who I belong to. I forgot to hug that perfect white line that helps us drive freely in our lane.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Mamas if you know God then you are His daughters. Our children were created by and belong to Him! We are FREE to obey our perfect Father out of love for Him with out the burden (which isn’t ours to carry anyway) of how our children will turn out or how it reflects on us. His yolk IS easy and His burden IS light. Don’t get me wrong, we have the responsibility to teach, train and instruct but we are responsible for our obedience…not for the results we hope it will produce.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
Our God loves our kids more than we do and He has a plan for them. He doesn’t promise that we will see the fruit of salvation or perfect obedience while they live in our homes but He does ask us to point them to Him! So really, we not only have the freedom to obey, but we are free to repent and share our brokenness and flaws with them and show them a Mother who is in JUST as much need of a rescuer & Savior as they are.
So the next time you find yourself driving along the road of Motherhood and it’s getting dark and starts to pour, don’t pull over and stop driving. When the oncoming traffic forgets to turn off their high beams and it’s like you can’t see a thing, keep driving!!! Just slow down and faithfully turn your eyes back onto that constant white line and lean in. Trust God’s calling and faithful guidance. Remember who you belong to and rest in His truth. He will help you stay the course and keep in your lane!
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
As frustrated as I get, I would NEVER give my son away. Never. As I mulled over this week I was blown away yet again by the love of our good Father who gave away His ONLY Son for us. It’s the good news of the gospel and what Christ did in our place that can give us the ultimate hope and peace in Him.
“There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
Cause the cross already won the war
He’s Greater
He’s Greater
I am learning to run freely
Understanding just how he sees me
And it makes me love him more and more
He’s Greater
He’s Greater
Cause I hear a voice and he calls me redeemed
When others say I’ll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
In the world
In the world
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world’
-MercyMe (Greater)
I’m so thankful that on this drive of Motherhood we’ve got Jesus! Our steadfast, constant, solid and pure white who is faithful to keep us on course. I’m so thankful that He doesn’t give up on us, but faithfully makes us more like Him.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6
When the days seem foggy, the rain storms come, and the nights are so dark, He is there. When we come around one bend just to be greeted by the next, He is there. That white line is always there. Our God is ALWAYS there.
“Faithfully focus your attention to that steadfast, constant, solid white line on your right and trust that it will help you stay the course no matter what the other driver does. It is the only thing you can see in the darkness.”
He wants our eyes set on Him, hugging tightly to Him and to His promises. We can hug the white line with confidence that He will faithfully keep us not only in our lane, but securely on the road He has set before us no matter the storm.
Lord, may we learn to travel with endurance and rest in you. May we keep our eyes fixed on you as we remember who we belong to as we navigate Motherhood. May our generation of Christian Mothers encourage one another in truth and not keep silent believing the lies that we are the only ones. I pray you would open our children’s eyes and ears, that they would not only see their need for you, but learn to live in the freedom and love you offer. Keep steady (our) steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over (us) . *(Psalm 119:133) May you bless the Mama’s that are reading this, and would you please help us to not forget. Now may we go forth and “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:9-12 ESV) We love you Father, Amen.
*Italics are mine
Infinite Grace 