Being a mom is too important and too hard to go it alone. Isolation is dangerous. It’s where the enemy whispers, “You are the only one who thinks that way. You are the only one who feels like the way you do. You are the only one who acts like that.” Then he tries to convince us we will never change or guilts us into trying to be super-mom, super-wife, super-woman, super-servant – but all we become is super-tired!
When we fall short, we beat ourselves up. We hide our failure and flaws and work a little harder to do it a little better tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but it wears me out!
Even men are realizing it’s just not realistic! Today I want to introduce you to some Godly leaders who care about us moms. This video offers encouraging words from the D6 Conference.
We want to pass our faith to our children, but when we get to the end of our day most of us are out of time and energy. We need help. We need simple and practical steps towards becoming a D6 mom. But even Godly goals can lead to more tiredness. We’ve got to take care of our hearts first.
Last year, while speaking at a women’s conference, three women came up to me individually and secretly confessed that they were ready to walk out on their families. All of them were believers. And all of them had the same feeling – NUMB.
They were exhausted. Two of them said they didn’t feel anything anymore. They thought they could leave their kids and husbands and have no regrets. But as they listened to my messages, God spoke to their hearts, helping them realize they were not alone. And the Holy Spirit nudged each one to tell me. Isolation was losing its power.
I prayed and held each woman’s hands in that sacred place of confession and healing. Tears began to flow and hearts began to soften. I knew God wanted me to tell them to take care of their hearts, because our heart is central to who we are. Their hearts were shutting down and these women were scared. Deep in their souls they knew being numb wasn’t good and that walking out would hurt someone – even if they thought it wasn’t them. So, I encouraged them to:
- Set aside time to be with Jesus, to let Him love them. To carve out white space in their day to “come away with Him to a quiet place and get some rest.”
- Be still for even just 10 minutes a day, to write down thoughts and struggles, to find promises to pray in His Word and carry in their hearts.
- Talk to God and a trusted friend about things to cut back, to make room in their hearts for those who were slipping away – their families and even God.
You and I could get to that point if we are not careful. I don’t want that to happen. Next week we’re going to talk about practical ways to start living out D6 principles from Deuteronomy 6:5-9. But first I want us to promise we will focus on our relationship with Jesus. Ask Him to show you how you can take better care of your heart, because He wants that, and after all, that’s where being a D6 mom starts.
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I am exhausted, tired, and discouraged. I am pregnant with our third child-HUGE surprise and I can’t seem to manage anything in my house. Laundry is piled up, kids out of control, money low, I am really at the end of my rope and have lost hope.
You hit the biggest factor right now in my walk with God when you said “We want to pass our faith to our children, but when we get to the end of our day most of us are out of time and energy.”
I’ve now learned not to beat myself up with the fact that I’m not perfect and not even close to being perfect, so once I can accept this (although I very often strive to be pefect), I find it much easier to involve my children into praising and reading of the Lord – even doing small crafts that are focused on Jesus and His words at least keeps you in tune and on the right path, plus it’s way better than watching your kids get mad when they lose at a video game.
It must be hard picking winners here because everyone’s comments are so real and true, and I’m very impressed by the thoughts that go into everyone’s comments, right from their heart!
proverbs 31 really helps me alot everyday thank God for women who are not afraid to make a stand for Jesus Christ
Thank you for your prayer and your Godly words. I understand now that my FATHER in heaven is not critical and conditional. God put me in your blog the day I needed it the most and I love reading all the insight from other moms. God’s grace is so beautiful and may he bless all of you for your faithfulness.
Dear Anonymous,
I am praying for you. You are right, you can’t do this alone. I understand your struggle and my heart breaks because I know you don’t want to tear your children apart with your words. We have probably all been there. I know I have earlier in my marriage when I was so critical of myself and it would spill out in critical tones and words towards my kids and my husband.
I finally realized I couldn’t become a Godly mom until I really understood who I was as God’s child . I had to really pursue a deeper understanding of His love towards me. I had to choose to believe that He was not a critical parent who was disappointed in me as much as I was in myself. I had to believe that He loved me and saw beyond who I was to who I could become. And as I slowly took hold of those truths, my heart changes, and then my thoughts changed and then my words changed, and then our home changed.
I would love to share more by sending you a copy of my message for moms on CD. Please email me your address at [email protected].
Lord, I pray for this mom today and all the other moms who are in this same place of brokenness and desperation. Father, we want our love to be patient and kind and gentle – not demanding and critical and conditional. We need your love to invade our hearts and transform us from the inside out. We need you to give us your thoughts toward us so we can begin to think the way you do about ourselves and about our children.
God, make us the moms you created us to be through the power of your Holy Spirit – our Wonderful Counselor. We surrender to the life of Christ in us to walk in grace and let you live your life through us today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Hello,
I’m in need of prayer. I feel frustrated with my family but most of all myself. Everytime I feel like this an anxiety overwhelms me and when my children try me I explode and my mouth gets me in trouble. I say things that are hurtful to these little ones’ that are what I feel about myself and I and up asking for forgiveness to God and my kids that three days later I find myself doing it again. I love the Lord yet I’m a hypocrite for I let my emotions take over and end up not being Christ like. Please pray for me and my family. I can’t do it alone.
Renee,
I'm so thankful you are doing this. So many times we think we are all alone in feeling inadequate. It's so hard for women to actually admit all of these feelings because we all want to look like super-mom. I'm really excited about where this is going for you and the women you touch through this ministry.
Paula G. <><
Renee,
I'm so thankful you are doing this. So many times we think we are all alone in feeling inadequate. It's so hard for women to actually admit all of these feelings because we all want to look like super-mom. I'm really excited about where this is going for you and the women you touch through this ministry.
Paula G.
Just wanted to say I enjoy your blog.
Lisa Sims Stevens
[email protected]
Thank you for your honesty. Being a mom is HARD and Christian moms are not always allowed the chance to say “I don’t want to do this anymore!” – but are expected to hold it all together AND teach Sunday School, run VBS, help in the nursery……all with a big smile on our face. I think we all need to be “real”.
[email protected]