There was a time when my three older children were younger that all I did was rush from one thing to another. The result was a lot of stress, frustration, anxiety, and worry. Sounding familiar? If so, read on and my prayer is that you, overwhelmed mom, will find encouragement.

I literally lived by the clock. This one needs to nurse at 9, this one needs a nap at 10, this one needs to be picked up from Mother’s Day out at noon, and so forth and so on.

Then, there was the house work, meals to cook, bed time routines to follow, and setting the alarm to get up and do it all again the next day. Plus, my husband is a pastor so there was always the church services, meetings, and activities that we had to be at every time the door opened.

I was at my wits end one day after taking a screaming baby with an ear infection and 2 wrestle toddler boys to the doctor’s office and a quick grocery run. I was on my way home, a trip that seemed like it would never end due to the heavy rain, and I was near tears. I typically have my radio on the Christian radio but this particular day it was on the country radio station. And, oh my stars, if He didn’t just speak to me right through that radio.

If you aren’t an old country music fan like me, you may not know this song but it doesn’t matter, the words still have the same meaning even if you aren’t blessed enough to know the tune. 😉

I hear a voice
That say’s I’m running behind
I better pick up my pace
It’s a race
And there ain’t no room
For someone in second place.

I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.

I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)
by Alabama

Encouragement for the Overwhelmed Mom

There is NO Rush

This slapped me in the face. How often did I feel like I was running behind, race against the clock, or behave like I was taking second place if I slowed down? The Lord used this to heavily convict me of all of my rushing and doing to accomplish things that are perishing.

Hey Momma, there is no rush to win a race. We are not running against time, competing against others, or getting some special award for the most accomplished. In the end, there is only the quality of time that we put into raising the precious babies the Lord has given us to train

The lesson I had to learn is that as long as my kids got fed, rested when they needed, and I put my time into the things that mattered, I was living my purpose. There is no reward for doing it at a certain time or in a certain way or in patting myself on the back for checking off a to do list.

Life Can be Fun

“I rush and rush until life’s no fun” is the line that really got me. I had lost my joy. I was not enjoying my family, taking in the sweet moments and memories, or even slowing down to notice my blessings. I was consumed with completing tasks and in getting to the next thing and the next thing after that and infinity…

Life can be fun. We can get stuff accomplished and have joy doing it. We can have a lot going on and still take in the little moments. It is not beyond grasp to slow down and have peace. We have to first give up. Realize we can’t do it on our own. We need Jesus’ help. These promises are the best encouragement that an overwhelmed mom can hope for.

• Jesus promises to give us an abundant life: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

• Jesus promised to give us peace: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27) See also: Mom Needs Peace

• Jesus promised to give us joy: These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. (John 15:11) See also: Frustrated to Joyful Mom (Free 7 Day Prayer Plan)

• Jesus promised to give us rest: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) See also: To the Mom Who Needs Rest

Slowing Down is a Choice

The truth is that slowing down and living in peace is a choice. We get the choice every day to let the little things go and to focus on the important things in life. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

• We have the choice to get up early and read the word and pray.

• We have the choice to rest in Christ and let the chaos of the world go.

• We have the choice to be present and in the moment.

• We have the choice to put off what is not the priority for the day.

• We have the choice to say no to demands on our time that take away from family or time with the Lord.

• We have the choice to disconnect from social media or anything else that waste or misuse our time.

That was my moment of realizing what I had done to myself and my family. I had made the choice to rush, to live by the clock, and to be in a competition with this idea I had for my life and family. I had a long talk with the Lord.

The transformation did not happen over night but slowly, I regained my peace and joy. I began to actually enjoy motherhood. I looked at it as a privilege and a ministry rather than a duty or drudgery. And, my sense of being an overwhelmed mom turned into a mom who wanted to pass on encouragement to other moms.

Understanding the Race

There is a race but it’s a spiritual one. It’s more of a marathon really. And, it’s more about endurance, patient, and resting in Christ than it is about being fast or first. (See also: The Marathon of Motherhood)

In the realm of motherhood, it is about slowing down to get alone with Christ. It’s about being intentional to pour into our children, the truths that Christ is pouring into us. It’s about making sure that we give them Jesus every moment of every day (See also: 5 Ways to Give Them Jesus.) And if we accomplish nothing else in a day, knowing that that was the most important and enough!

God’s prize isn’t for the fastest, the most put together, the one with the smartest kids, the most organized, or even the world’s greatest mom. It’s for those who have kept the faith, who have obeyed Christ and who have endured to the end.

Tweet

I’m cheering you on Overwhelmed Mom and pray for you to be find encouragement. I know you, like me, feel like you fall behind and maybe even get off the path. The good news is that God is there to help you out. His word is encouraging and time in His presence is never wasted. Take comfort in His word: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17

Sharing is caring. Follow image link to Pin on Pinterest.