Encouragement for Weary Moms

When I was pregnant with our son, people would say things to me like "they grow up so fast" and "enjoy the younger years".  What they failed to tell me was how difficult it is to raise a child or that you have to actually invest a significant amount of time and effort.  They didn't explain what it would require of me to nurture them, train them, discipline them, and disciple them.  This parenting gig is much harder than I ever anticipated.

Don't get me wrong, it's also just as wonderful as those individuals made it out to be.  It really is.  But, ask any mother and she will tell you that to raising a child to know and love Jesus is a full-time job.

With that in mind, I simply wanted to take a moment to send some encouragement your way.

 So, please allow me to direct you to 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10.  It says:

" Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Verse 7 begins with Paul talking about his thorn in the flesh.  Now, I'm not going to get into what it was because 1. there are several different opinions and 2. it just doesn't say {it says messenger from Satan, so I would assume it was a demon}.  The greater point is that there was something bothering him.  Something causing him pain.  {Can you relate?}

So, what does Paul do about this discomfort?  He cries out to God.  Not once.  Not twice.  But THREE different times.  He begs.  He pleads.  All he wants is for this "thorn" to go away.  {Note: I'm in no way trying to compare raising children to having a thorn in the side... though some days we may feel that way.  What I am saying is that being a mom is often painful and uncomfortable.  It stretches us and requires an enormous amount of dedication and energy.}

Now, in my opinion, if anyone deserved for God to grant his plea, it would be Paul.  I mean, Paul was a great Christian man who dedicated his life to serving God.  He was beaten and imprisoned for his faith.  Surely, he deserved some kind of relief from his troubles.

But God doesn't grant his request.  What does He say?  

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."  

Because I'm a complete nerd, will you humor me as I break down this statement: 

• Grace - Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. {Noah Webster Dictionary, 1828}.
• Sufficient -  Enough; equal to the end proposed; adequate to wants; competent. {Noah Webster Dictionary, 1828}.
• Power -  Force; strength; energy {Noah Webster Dictionary, 1828}.
• Perfected - Finished; completed {Noah Webster Dictionary, 1828}.
• Weakness -  Want of physical strength; want of force or vigor; feebleness {Noah Webster Dictionary, 1828}.

So, to paraphrase this statement which, by the way, comes directly from the mouth of God: "My love for you is all you need.  For my strength comes when you are weak."

{Via}

HOW MANY OF YOU FEEL WEAK TODAY?  

{I'm raising my hand too!}

What God told Paul all those years ago is still true today.  God's grace and strength are all we need.

I like how this post from Inspired to Action said it {and I'm paraphrasing here as well}: 

"Often times when we feel weak, we pray for strength.However, this verse tells us that when we do so, we're praying the wrong thing.We ought to pray for God to BE our strength.God will become our strength and be glorified in our weakness."

One last thing I want to point out and I'll wrap it up... Notice in verse 10, Paul says:

"Therefore I am WELL CONTENT with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." {emphasis mine}

Are you well content in your weaknesses and distresses?  I must admit that I cannot always answer that question with a confident "Yes!".  In fact, most of the time, I'd have to hang my head and mumble some form of "no...uh..not really...I mean...I try to...well...".  But we ALL should be content to go through trials because as he says at the end of that verse: "when I am weak, then I am strong."

In case you didn't catch the encouraging part, here's the main point I wanted to communicated with you:

It is more than okay to be weak.  You don't have to be strong.  When you are at your weakest, His power makes you strong.  God is glorified in your weakness.  After all, isn't our greater purpose to glory Him?

So, dear mother, 

who is weary from staying up all night with a sick little one...

who spends her days cleaning up countless spills and wiping endlessly runny noses...

who would give anything for a nap...

who sometimes forgets to eat...

who feels completely worn down. exhausted...

take heart...

for when you are weak, He doesn't just give you strength,
He IS your strength!!

Blessings,

  

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