There are times, on this journey of motherhood, where I feel unused. You are probably asking why I would feel this way because I am certainly USED a lot doing things for my four boys. When I say I feel unused, I mean that in a spiritual sense. I question whether what I am doing at home is for God's kingdom or if there is something outside my door that I could be doing. In the moments where I feel unused, it is hard to see the fruits of my labor because my fruits (my kids) are still growing. I hear of what people are doing outside their home and that some days they see immediate results of the fruits of their labor.
God works in mysterious ways and He knows how to get me out of this funk. He sends CLEAR messages that I am doing something for His kingdom. I am raising four boys who will turn into godly men. On Monday, the day after Mother's Day, I was in this funk of feeling unused. You are probably now asking why I felt this way the day after Mother's Day, a day where I was celebrated for all that I do. I felt this way because as I referenced in a previous post, my husband graduated and he will need to find work soon. The more I thought, the more I began feel bad that I couldn't help provide financially for our household. I got so worked up about needing to do more for my husband and for my family. God stopped me in my tracks on Monday. He gave me the perfect verse as my devotion to get my mind back on where it needs to be:
God prepared me long before to be a stay at home mom. My mind needs to stop wondering if there is something else for me to be doing. I am doing exactly what God created me to do. My devotion time Monday was spent just reading this verse and letting go of my feelings of being unused. God is using me in a very important way. I just need to be patient because I'm due time I will see the results of staying home with my kids.
God refreshed my soul and helped me to work through this hiccup. I will solely rely on His guidance.
Much like a recent post of mine, I need to keep doing what God wants me to do and not give up. I will teach my kids and do what God wants me to do for my kids with faith, hope, and love
I think that as a mom you are "used" every moment of everyday. It is your job to make sure that you raise strong, independent, happy, honest, kind people and that is a 24/7 job.
ReplyDeleteLove this. I feel the same sometimes, but then God always pulls me back. :)
ReplyDeleteI was a stay at home Mom for a long time and I often felt the same way. I want to encourage you to not settle yourself with less than your call. If you sometimes feel discontent with staying at home and want to "do more" for God's kingdom that's not a bad thing! That's a GREAT thing. Only God would put the desire in your heart to do more for His Kingdom. Maybe this platform you have online is doing more than you know. God dreams of MORE for us than we do and He doesn't make us "settle" for less. Being a Mom is a very tough, all-consuming job and for many people (like my Mother) it's absolutely plenty and they don't feel the call to do anything else because they're content and at peace with where they are. But girl, if there's a stirring in your heart I encourage you to pray it out because maybe there IS a bigger calling on your life than you could even dream :)!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, its great being sensitive to God and allowing Him to guide you and use you for His Glory.He Amazes me.I fall deeper and deeper in love with Him.I am a ministers wife, and even being busy in ministry I go through things.But God is always here with me.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes feel the same way. I think even when we feel "unused" we are really serving such an an important role. The fact that you worry about how you are serving others shows that you are.
ReplyDeleteAfter my kids left the nest I felt unused quite often. It wasn't until I had grandkids that the feeling left me. I should have turned to God to help me deal with these feelings.
ReplyDeleteThere are days wherein we feel like we are short when it comes to our service to the lord. I definitely understand you on that part. Most of the time, you just really need to do right by him, go to church and encourage your kids to learn the word of God.
ReplyDeleteOur Lord has a purpose for each and every one of us - the problem is that we're not always tuned in to the Holy Spirit
ReplyDeleteI sometimes feel this way, too. God has a plan for all of us, we just have to reach out to Him and He will enlighten us.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post. Even though I'm not religious in any sense, I can certainly empathize with your feelings.
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