“God’s grace is manifest in not letting us be content with anything but Him. Every hollow feeling in the heart is a catalyst to drive us to Him.” -Paul Washer
There is no doubt that motherhood is the most stretching, challenging, humbling, exhausting, and rewarding undertaking I’ve ever endeavored. The last 10 years of my life –the journey as a mom– has been the source of my most sleepless nights, my most anxious fears, my deepest desires, and my most desperate moments as a grown woman.
And there are so many things we run to when we feel desperate…
We run to food.
We run to friends.
We run to things to buy.
We run to the internet.
We run to status updates.
We run to entertainment.
We run to busyness.
We want our thirst quenched, but so often, we fail to run to the Living Water, the Word of God.
WAIT… but, I don’t mean to go to the Bible for the formula, the secret to success, or to salve the conscience. No…I’m saying that– in our desperation– we fail to run to the PERSON who is the Word of God. What you believe about the Bible determines whether you run to it, or away from it, in times of desperation.
Will you one day look at this season of weariness, chaos, and exhaustion as a mother, and say:
“I was so busy surviving the sleepless nights and the demands of motherhood that I really couldn’t regularly commune with God through His Word.”
Or…will you say one day:
“I was so overwhelmed and worn out as a mother, I couldn’t HELP but commune with God through His Word.”
Will motherhood drive you TO the Word, or from it?
I’m under conviction as I look at how much my Bible reading in the last 10 years of motherhood has been rooted in formula instead of fellowship. May our dark and desperate times usher us before our good and gracious God. “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8
Oh Lord, give us a deep desire for YOU!!
“The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”
― A.W. Tozer
Now let’s link up in community…
Welcome to GraceLaced Mondays, a link up dedicated to sharing any and all blog posts by like-minded lovers of grace–God’s grace! Grace is found in the everyday when you are intentional about taking note of it…and I invite you to share your story, great or small, of how everyday moments are full of Grace.
*Link back to GraceLaced –so your readers can find us here– by copying and pasting the code below into the html page of your post. (Make sure you scroll down and copy the entire code, thanks!)
*Please link up your post, not your blog’s home address.
*Enter the name of your blog post, not your own name.
*Visit the other links and leave a comment–everyone loves comment love!
*Add your link anytime this week!
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So very true. The storms in a mother’s life often reveal where our source of faith lies. Too often, I am like the disciples, trying to get the water out of the sinking boat until finally I turn to Christ and say “Don’t you care!” May He be my source and not my own strength, some formula, or temporary salve. Great post!
So true, Christina! Thanks for the reminder of that great example in Scripture.
Hi Ruth
Thank you for the honor of linking-up at your place. I am also an admirer of the work of A. W. Tozer. Loved his book, In Pursuit of God! Yes, dear one, although my sons are now 23 and 20, my heart still wanders around the whole world where they are!
Much love XX
Mia
I so appreciate you being here, Mia. It is so good to be in the company of those who have walked through these young years and have survived…and thrived!
This exactly is my case. I love the Bible .My problem is the struggle to get to God’s word and it’s not a habit.
Please pray for me!
KTG, yes…there are so many things we value and do habitually, and sadly, communing with God is so often not at the top of the list. I need continued prayer in this area as well. The Lord is at work in us!
Oh how this resonated with me! I am a “formula” person….just tell me what to do God, and I will do it. However you are so right in saying the answer is in running to the Person who has already accomplished all we need for righteousness and abundant life. Ruth, your blog is one of my favorites because each post does just that! Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ.
Blessings friend!
I’m so encouraged by your presence here, Lori. Thanks for this comment. I’m thankful that we are not alone in these struggles and give anticipate the Lord’s faithfulness in our lives through these seasons.
I loved this! We can’t be the wife, mom, grandma, woman God has called us to be unless we spend time with Him!
I so often make the mistake of trying to fulfill my roles in life before really communing with Christ, and growing in WHO and WHOSE I am! Thanks, Kim!
Such a timely post. I have had the roughest night since my daughter was born, and I often find myself close to what I imagine my breaking point is. Too often I forget to commune with God, and instead escape into novels of some sort. This morning I am exhausted, and terrified because it is only the beginning of the week. This was such a great reminder to me to take even just a few minutes and hang out with God, to commune with Him. It is in Him I will find the peace and joy I so desperately need right now. God bless!
I have been there SO many times, Kathryn. Thanks for your vulnerability in sharing. Going to the Lord truly exposes us and the root of our weakness and sinfulness. So many other things merely cover up…but the Living Word of God does what nothing else can–it changes us! Praying for you this day.
Wonderful words. The last couple of months God has been showing me the ways I’ve been reading his word only for information rather than transformation. I need both…and yes nothing like motherhood to realize it.
Ahh…information rather than transformation. I totally get that. Praise God He is know-able…and more than that. He desires to be known intimately. Thankful for your comment today, Melanie.
Ruth – I wasn’t thinking and put my own name instead of my blog post name on my link – oops.
Thank you for this post! To the Word I go!!!
Your words are so true and so pointed. Look to the “One”. I loved your words, “motherhood has been rooted in formula instead of fellowship.” Yes we put so much onto ourselves in motherhood we forget to live, enjoy, relate and love.
I am a grandma to 5 and one more on the way. I urge you to BREATHE in the love of God and BREATHE out the love of God each minute of every day.
Thanks for the opportunity to link my post today as I count the gifts that God is bestowing upon me.
Blessings,
Janis
Thank you so much for sharing this post. It came at the perfect time. Almost a year ago, I gave birth to a high maintenance little boy. He never slept. He had silent reflux. I wore him all day so I could keep him from crying. I was so tired. I didn’t get any sleep at night. I would pray, “God, I just need 2 straight hours.” But day ever day.. that prayer wasn’t answered. So I became angry. And I stopped reading my Bible on a daily basis because I was so tired and so angry. Now I know that wasn’t the right way to feel. I feel much differently these days and because of that I am much stronger. I wish I had this post back then. But it still came at a perfect time because now we are losing a lot of sleep again. But I will stay strong. I’ll keep this post in mind a lot.
He is all we need! Love, grace, mercy, peace, joy, wisdom, strength — all are found in Him! Thanks for the great post & for hosting, & God bless!
I love the first quote. It says precisely what my soul has been seeking in a church. I’m tired of emotionalism, do-goodism, secularism from the pulpit. I just want CHRIST! I can only find contentment in the depths of my soul from Him. Mercifully, through the fruitless search, I am being drawn more to Him (at least lately). That is certainly praiseworthy.
Now, if I can apply it to my mothering, life would be much more peaceful and much more grace-filled within the walls of our home.
Love you, Ruth. Thank you once again for your Spirit-filled perspective!
OH friend, I so understand how you feel! I think that the Lord often humbles us by showing us how are big and lofty theological and spiritual goals can be lived out in the smallest and simplest of ways in our daily lives…doing mundane things and with our children. I’m so thankful He is working through us , and in spite of ourselves!