Dear Mama,

I know you’re tired.

You’ve tossed and turned all night. The baby wouldn’t sleep and neither would your mind. Thoughts of guilt, worried you’re not good enough, wishes you had spoken more gently, played a bit longer, shown a little more grace, had a little more patience. As you wake, you realize your kids are a day older, but so are you. Oh to have the energy they have! The thoughts of your youth flood back and the realization of how much the generations have changed is daunting. How will you ever be enough? How do you safe guard a generation who is bombarded by so much so early?

As you are in deep thought…the baby cries and, lack of sleep and overwhelm come crashing down like a tidal wave of emotions and the day breaks with your heart already broken by your snappy temper….

I wish it was only MY dialog and that YOU couldn’t relate in the slightest, but the truth is, I am not alone, and neither are you. We suffer silently, struggling and believing we are somehow broken. But, we are not.

God knew the struggle, the pain, the loneliness, the feelings of failure and frustration we would face on this road of motherhood. The guilty feeling for taking a timeout, the exhaustion from not letting yourself take a break. The belief that you have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.

But God says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” (Ps. 61:1-3)

Oh Mama, find time in your busy heart to whisper out a cry to God! Let Him give you peace. Let Him remind you that you are not alone. Let Him be the shelter for your wandering heart to find rest. Let Him take the failures you are beating yourself up with and watch what He can do with your surrender!

It is not an epiphany! It takes daily, moment by moment reminding. But, for every step you take towards Him, He comes running after you!

I am praying for your tired heart today, Mama! That God’s grace and comfort will find you right where you are, stop you in your tracks and wrap you up in the warm embrace of His presence. For every moment the frazzled ends of unraveled plans leave you overwhelmed, may you find His mercies new every morning and His faithfulness tried and true.

God is near to those who call to Him. Place your tired heart in His hands. He loves you with an everlasting love!