A Lesson in Motherhood
All I wanted to do was get dinner on the table.
My 1-year-old had ransacked our apartment, with books, blocks, pots, pans, and Cheerios everywhere. My stomach rumbled with hunger, I had loads of laundry to do after a week away, and my husband wouldn’t be home until late.
When my son yanked open the cabinet under the kitchen sink for the countless time—pulling out the dishwasher detergent with delight—I lost it. “No!” I snapped at him, and he promptly burst into tears.
Shame immediately washed over me like a wave. I knelt down and hugged my baby, rocking him back and forth as I prayed:
Lord, give me patience and the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I ask for joy in You and in the seemingly mundane parts of daily life. Thank you for this sweet son You’ve given me. He is a good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Help me to fix my eyes on You.
Prayer is not my natural inclination. Rather than running to the Lord, I wallow in worry and fear. I try to control situations on my own. I am quick to snap at others. I fail to be patient, joyful, and content. And often, I entirely ignore entirely God’s call on my heart to pray.
God tells us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Do make our requests known to God? Do we pray with thanksgiving? He knows us intimately (Psalm 139:1-6), and He hears us when we call on Him (Jeremiah 29:12).
Christ went to the cross for our sins. He died and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He has swallowed up death in victory! (1 Corinthians 15:55) He alone can provide peace and joy in the midst of a pandemic, school closures, job losses, loneliness, illness, and grief. He is the light of the world (John 8:12), illuminating any darkness we face.
In his book Prayer, Timothy Keller writes,
"Prayer is both conversation and encounter with God... We must know the awe of praising His glory, the intimacy of finding His grace, and the struggle of asking His help, all of which can lead us to know the spiritual reality of His presence."
We’re given the gift of prayer to communicate with God whenever we want. The God of heaven and earth wants to talk to us. Knowing that fills my heart with wonder and hope.
Prayer should be a regular rhythm of our lives. Let us be women who start each day conversing with our Father and who continue that conversation without end.
May we be slow to speak and quick to listen. May we trust in our Father who is always good and always faithful. May prayer become the hallmark of our lives. May we “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
My Word of the Year: 6 Months In
Joy.
I chose joy as my word of the year back in early January, and, goodness, the world has sure looked different than I think any of us ever expected coming into 2020. We’ve witnessed a pandemic, stay-at-home orders and shutdowns, sweeping unemployment, brutal murders, peaceful protests, terrifying riots, and political division (to put it lightly).
I chose joy because of my own internal circumstance—hormones, lack of sleep, self-doubt, anger, and anxiety. I chose joy thinking of my physical and mental states. I had no idea what would soon be happening all around me.
Can I still experience joy when the world feels like it’s falling apart?
As a believer in Jesus Christ, the answer is yes. It’s not an easy answer, but it is a simple one. Christ provides joy in all circumstances, trials, and tests. He provides hope in the situations that feel beyond hopeless. He offers rest for our weary souls and the peace that surpasses all understanding.
The big question is whether we believe that.
Here’s what James had to say:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
A little background: James is the half-brother of Jesus. He was with Jesus for most of their lives, but he was skeptical of His ministry. After seeing his brother die and then seeing the resurrected Christ, James became a strong believer, disciple, and pillar of the church. He also was martyred for his faith.
So James understands the testing of his faith. He understands trials and persecution. He was living in the time of Jesus, and he was one of the very first disciples of our Lord at a time when people weren’t exactly super friendly toward Christianity. Sound familiar?
James tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds. The testing of our faith produces perseverance. I often have to repeat that to myself and meditate on it—and still the wonder of this truth continues to awe me.
Can I have joy when:
COVID runs rampant
Business shut down
The economy tanks
I lose my job
I feel depressed or anxious
I have to home-school my kids
All mom’s groups are called off
My marriage is falling apart
My retirement account looks bleak
My wedding is postponed
The long-awaited vacation is cancelled
A friendship falls apart
A loved one receives a diagnosis
The pregnancy test is negative, again, after months of trying
Riots continue throughout the country
Church is still online only
My friend is far from God
And I am exhausted, frustrated, sad, angry, overwhelmed, all of the above?
Can you have joy in the midst of this? These situations are all very real. They’re just a sample of the circumstances affecting either myself or the people around me. They’re all difficult and anxiety-inducing. They all require us to put on the armor of God and trust that He will go to battle on our behalf.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
I am continually learning how to have joy in all circumstances. God keeps pressing “joy” upon my heart, reminding me of my word for 2020 and all that He promises to do in His Word.
He is faithful.
He is righteous.
He is merciful.
He is just.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you at the proper time…”
He can be trusted, always. We need more of Him and less of ourselves. Humble yourself and exalt the Lord. Put things in their right order in light of eternity, and the troubles here on earth won’t seem quite so terrifying.
I have to preach this to myself on pretty much a daily basis. I read the Bible, pray, talk with my fellow believers, listen to encouraging podcasts and sermons, and remind myself of the joy I have in God. It is the greatest gift. I’m asking God to cultivate this fruit within me, every day, no matter what circumstances I’m facing.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law..”
Let Us Pray
Cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.
LORD Jesus,
Where do I begin? My heart hurts. I am in shock over the pain, destruction, violence, fear, injustice, and outrage taking place on our streets, in our country. I feel sad. I feel angry. I feel scared. I don’t have the perfect words to say, but You do, God. Your words are faithful and true. You are our Shepherd. Light of the world. The peacemaker. The great I Am. And nothing is impossible for you, God.
We know that one day, You will abolish all evil and death. You will remain victorious, God. You are the Way, and You will make the eternal way for Your children—children who come from every tribe, every nation, and every tongue.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you have me studying Revelation right now. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that much of what we are witnessing in the world today mirrors the revelation You gave to John. Deception, war, famine, death. For those who don’t know You, the outlook is bleak.
But thank you, Jesus, that You provide a way out.
You give us hope. You are the spotless lamb, who shed your blood for us on the cross. You tell us that all who believe in You will be saved!
“This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Destruction is coming, but we know it’s not the end for those of us who love You. This earth is broken. We will suffer, and we will witness grave injustice here. Yet, You are good, and You are faithful. You are the ultimate just judge.
“There was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)
This is amazing!
Every nation, tribe, people, and language. You wash us white as snow, God. Thank you.
Lord, we know from the time of Adam and Eve that this world is a fallen one. We look forward to heaven with great expectancy, and we trust that You are in the business of making all things new.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is their second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Amen.
A Few Quarantine Faves
The best podcasts, books, and more.
These past few months have been strange, to say the least. I’m ready to get back to more normalcy. But at the same time, I’m thankful for an opportunity to slow down. I’m thankful for more time to read, bake, take walks, and be with family—even if that means staying in our apartment or within a small radius around it.
I’m thinking through another blog post about this season because, trust me, God is teaching me a lot. He’s refining me and revealing the dirt within my heart. Phew, it’s hard, but it is good.
For now, I’m keeping things a bit lighter and sharing a few of my favorite ways to pass the time. (You know, in all the free time I have with a toddler running around 😄.)
Podcasts
“Office Ladies" - Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela) take us through a behind-the-scenes look at each episode of The Office. The two friends are hilarious and insightful, and they’ll have you wanting to binge this classic show all over again.
“Risen Motherhood" - Always my go-to. As the hosts say in the intro, we need the refreshing truth of the gospel poured over us daily. Risen Motherhood helps me focus on Christ and find joy in even the most mundane parts of motherhood.
“The Dropout" - This 6-episode series reports on Elizabeth Holmes, the youngest self-made female billionaire, through her quick rise and subsequent fall as she currently faces up to 20 years in jail.
Books
Open Book - I devoured this book. Jessica Simpson tells all in her newly released memoir. I was intrigued by her personal take on all the things that happened in the public eye, and I commend her for sharing her story of sobriety.
The Alice Network - This fiction book is based on the true story of a female spy network during World War I and II. It took me much longer to read but was definitely worth it.
Afraid of All the Things - I’m currently reading this for a Zoom book club. (Three months ago, I didn’t even know what Zoom was and look where we are today!) Scarlet Hiltibidal is funny and frank. She speaks God’s Word directly into her fears and anxieties—and my own.
Finding I Am - I did Lysa TerKeurst’s Bible study on the book of John after my local women’s study ended. The study centers on the seven “I Am” statements Jesus makes in scripture. Look for a blog post on “I am the vine” coming soon.
Exalting Jesus in Revelation (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) - I’ve had this commentary on my bookshelf for about three years, and this month, I finally decided to go through it. So far, I’ve been blown away as I slowly read through Revelation and connect the dots to the Gospel with this remarkable book.
Fitness
Peloton - I’m in the middle of a free trial of the Peloton app, and I’m loving it. I don’t have the Peloton bike or treadmill (and I’m also so not a runner). But I’m really enjoying the yoga videos, especially because I can do a 20- or 30-minute class while my son sleeps.
Desert Streams Yoga - My mother-in-law and sisters-in-law started this Christian yoga school, and their Instagram account is full of inspirational poses and Biblical mediation. Be sure to give them a follow!
Food
Half-Baked Harvest - Teighan’s recipes sometimes have a few more interesting ingredients, but they’re always so fun to make. Her oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies are the best. I can’t wait to make her sheet pan chicken and potatoes and homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Sally’s Baking Addiction - Baking is life right now, and my girl Sally has never let me down. Her vanilla cake and carrot cake are two of my all-time favorites. Her piñata cupcakes are next on my list.
TV
“Some Good News" - Okay, this is technically a web series, but I couldn’t not mention it. John Krasinski’s positive news show is sure to warm your heart. I also just love that his daughters made the adorable SGN sign hanging behind him in every episode.
“The Last Dance" - We are pretty much obsessed with this ESPN limited series on Michael Jordan and the 90s Bulls. As a native Chicagoan, how could I not watch? (Also, my one and only NBA experience was seeing Jordan take on the Utah Jazz at the United Center, circa 1996. And what a great experience it was.)
What have you been up to during this stay-at-home season? I’d love to know. Leave me a comment below.