"It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal."
- Helen Keller
I am not going to lie.
Motherhood is a task that at times does not seem equal to my powers.
A blessing, an honor, a cherished responsibility, a wondrous experience--yes it is most certainly all of these. But it can also be overwhelming, challenging, and downright bone-wearying. It demands everything every second of the day. And there are times when I feel like I've run out of anything to give. It's in those times when God gently graces me with His reassurance that my husband and I are not our children's only parents. They have a Heavenly Father who loves them to distraction. He will strengthen us and guide us as we raise our children in the knowledge of Him.
There is a scripture that I love to personalize and pray over my children, my husband, and myself. Lately, I've needed to pray it pretty often! It's a life changing, faith building, weariness busting, glory filled living kind of scripture. Just the kind I need.
Colossians 1: 9-13 (paraphrased)
My dear Jesus, I ask that you would fill me with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And I pray this in order that I may live a life worthy of you, Lord, and may please you in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of you, God, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to you, Father, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
I'm so glad that His power is available for me. I don't have to make it on my own steam. And that's something to be joyful about.
21 comments:
Bless you Joye and Joel! How often we forget to remember the daddy, who gives just as much love as we do, and serves as the fortress around our families, even when he is away to provide for our temporal needs.
I do appreciate you sharing your heart and keeping it real. I can feel your aching bones, and the grind of every day tasks, which seem never ending, but oh, how quickly they end!
I passed a picture today of my son when he was 6 months old. I pulled it off the wall and held it next to my heart, embracing the memory of yesterday when he was so, so small. I felt a lump form in my throat, as I marveled at the fact that all I did was blink and he was gone... from an infant to a man.
Joye, don't blink, don't ever blink.
What a wonderful message/remdinder.
I am thankful for your insightful posts full of reality, inspiration, and reminders of how God walks in your everyday life, motherhood, love, and joy. :)
Thank you for sharing this with me.
Joye, I said a prayer for you.....I remember those days of having a newborn and it does just wear you out at times. I love your posts though and how you always look to the Father to help you through. You always have the most beautiful outlook on things and it inspires me!
Thank you for this Joye... I love the quote and the paraphrased verse.... I need to be reminded of this often! and where I am today, this post touched right to the core of my experience....
Something I thought of as I read your post, that I wanted to share with you, my Psalm for this week is Psalm 46, and I can't tell you how great it has been to start every day being reminded to "Cease striving and know that I am God"
Oh, I definitely needed this post at this stage in my life! It actually ties in quite nicely with my post today!
Many blessings!
Beautiful, I need to be reminded of this daily.
That baby of your is too cute, snuggle up on the sofa today and nap with him for me, That is the thing I miss most about have a baby.
Cha Cha
Amein! That is wonderful.
Beautiful post. And I love that scripture. I needed that reminder with all the busyness in my life. :)
Blessings! :)
beautiful! This is so much how I feel at some point almost everyday. I can't wear so many hats on my own. I can't be the wife, the friend, the daughter, the sister, the mentor, the pastors wife... it's too hard. But, God so graciously blesses me with strength for one day at a time. Thank you for this Joye!!! :)
first of all, is that picture you? it is such a perfect picture of what mother's should be doing, where we should be gaining our strength and Who we should go to when we feel the pressure of motherhood. You wrote it beautifully... mothering is a joy but it is an incredibly hard job that required everything from us. And, God is our strength!
Joye, thanks for sharing that! Beautiful is right! Keep leaning on the eternal!
Lovies,DJ
You speak to so many mothers' hearts! God's word is so powerful, and He will fill us up!
Your post is lovely- and I am so thankful for the timing of me being able to read it right now.
HE knows...Keep looking up- He will carry you through!
Love you Joye!
~september
Thank God that His strength is made perfect in our weakness, even the weaknesses of mommyhood! Keep leaning on Him and He will rise you up on His wings as you soar in His power to love those babies. :)
I love this post - thanks for the reminder! I will be praying for rest for you! :-)
I love stopping by your blog, sitting and reading your love letter to Jesus and your family!..You are an amazing women, a beautiful mother and I am sure a wonderful wife!..Your love for you creator drips from your words of endearment for Him...
I sure hope the colic ends sooner then later for you all!..Poor little guy...Your Easter pictures precious!...You make me miss my little ones all the time..But, God is blessing me with a grandbaby that calls me and I get to hear "ga'ma'" on the other end...what a blessing...for us!
Be well and Blessed... oxoxoxo
psss..thanks for the beautiful encouragment on my photography....
Great verse.
I know you must have your hands full these days. May the strength of the Lord be your guide.
I love putting my name in scripture.
It so very much personalizes it.
This is beautiful and so so encouraging. I enjoyed reading your lovely blog.
Nicole
http://lettersfromcoco.blogspot.com/
amen! thank you for the encouragement!!! you are a beautiful mama!
Great post and I love the gentle reminder (the picture) of where our strength truly comes from.
Blessings,
Theresa
"Motherhood is a task that at times does not seem equal to my powers."
Ah, such a pefect place to be.. so that His strength can be made perfect in our weakness!! What a beautiful, timely post. Thank you!
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