3 Tips to Keeping your Sanity as a Mom
Between spending personal time with the Lord, maintaining a home, running errands, exercising, parenting 1…2…3...4+ children, tending to your marriage, serving at your church, maintaining friendships, being “in community,” staying connected with family, possibly having some time for personal interests... There never seems to be enough time! How is it possible to do it all? Not to mention, if you work a fees-for-service job, or homeschool your kids. Can we also just throw the cherry on-top and discuss the pressure we can feel by seeing that other parents are taking their kids to serve in West Dallas or hosting neighborhood book clubs for outreach purposes. I mean, I just want to crawl back in bed, defeated after writing all that!
To all the mamas out there asking the question, “How do I do it all?!” Let me give you three tips to keeping your sanity in the midst of all the tugs on our time and attention.
Remember, you are not the only one.
In moments where we feel like we’re the only ones whom feel like we’re drowning in life, falling short and flat worn out from barely making it, it’s tempting to think we are the only one that feels this way. It’s tempting to think that everyone else has it more together than we do and are doing a better job overall. Mama, that just ain’t true! Do yourself a favor and stay away from social media until you can remember that what you see there is merely a highlight reel. Guard your mind against focusing on what appears lacking and instead focus your attention on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Remember, He is what you really need.
So often I have found myself over-extended and overwhelmed because I’m going and doing for all the wrong reasons. I’m going and doing because I am driven by gaining the approval of others, or because I find my value in what I can accomplish, or because I need to feel needed or because I want something to be perfect. 99.9% of the time I’m overwhelmed (and feel like a failure) it’s because I have shifted into thinking my needs are ultimately satisfied in things this world provides instead of Him. "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11
Remember, seek first His kingdom.
A few years ago, I read Matthew 6:33 in a new translation that revolutionized my world. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for.” This verse comes on the coattails of the “worry verses” that talk about all the things that cause us to worry. And Jesus tells us, that worrying doesn’t help at all but instead we need to focus our attention on His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all the things that are worrying us… He’s going to provide for! That doesn’t mean He’s going to give us what we want, no siree bob. He’s saying here, that when we seek Him first, all the things that we are worrying about, He’s going to provide for us one way or the other.
If you’ve found yourself in a season of exhaustion, remember (1) you’re not alone, (2) He is what you really need and (3) seek first His Kingdom. I trust the Lord will provide.