I have a confession to make. In my efforts to be the mom who does it all, I am often discouraged, as I grow exhausted. Feeling lonely and lacking self-confidence, my faith in my abilities as a mom start to wane.
I’d like to say that I manage to balance my tasks as a mom with grace and resilience, without complaining and grumbling, and that I never, ever grow frustrated or impatient. If this is the expectation, then I have definitely failed in my role as a mom.
I sometimes start to wonder if I’m the right woman for the job.
If this is you, too, let me just start by saying this:
You are uniquely you, and you are exactly what your children need. You are the mom that God picked out for the children He placed in your care. Psalm 127:3 (NLT) says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”
So if our children are a gift, then shouldn’t we find joy and pleasure, rather than burden and stress, from fulfilling the duties of being their mom?
The Bible talks about gifts, talents, and abilities and tells us that God gives to each one of us according to what we can handle (Romans 12:6), and I believe this includes the children that He gives to parents, too. If you are a mom, that means that God believes that you’ve got what it takes.
Thankfully, He does not leave us on our own to figure it out. He is always close by, only one prayer away. As we call on His name and pray to Him, He will give us all we need.
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)
I hope you find some peace, comfort, and even healing, as you surrender all the things to God, through this collection of prayers for the mom who does it all:
As the children come and go, their schedule full with activities, sports, and friends, it’s inevitable to feel like you are the invisible controller, responsible for keeping all the cogs operating without failure. You do it because that’s just what moms do, but it can feel like a thankless job, and you wonder if the children even appreciate you, or if anyone even notices all that you do.
Let me remind you that God sees you; He knows all the countless hours and sleepless nights you dedicate to your children.
“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:1-2 (NIV)
Pray this prayer when you need help believing that you are more than visible; you are seen and known:
Oh God, you are the One who sees all and knows all. Your Word says you have searched me; you know me and all my comings and goings, even my thoughts. As much as I say I believe it, I don’t always live like I do. I go about my day, feeling like nobody sees me, cares about me, or understands me; sometimes, I can’t help but believe I’m not important. Please remind me every minute of every day of your love, especially on the days when those I love the most seem to forget I exist; please give attention to my needs, fill me up, and sustain me with your words, like water to my thirsty soul and honey to my lips. Thank you for seeing me, for knowing me, for understanding me, more than anyone ever will. You are more than enough, you are all that I need. Amen.
At the end of a long day, after bedtime prayers are said, you breathe a sigh of relief.
It’s finally time to kick up your feet and enjoy some alone time with your husband; however, all the plans you had for this sacred time together are thwarted as you drift off to sleep five minutes into your favorite show.
Even though you’re tired, you are less concerned with getting sleep than you are with the state of your suffering marriage.
Oh, sweet mama, don’t be too hard on yourself. This is just a season, and when you set the bar so high that you cannot reach it, only wings can get you there. You cannot do this on your own, you weren’t designed for that. Instead, rely on God to make you soar:
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for strength and energy to get me through the day, and as the evening draws near, and I grow weary from the day’s activities, please give me new-found strength, as I tuck my children into bed. I long to enjoy quality time with the man that you gave me, and I see value in strengthening my relationship with him. Give us ideas of new ways to spend time together rather than relying on the last moments of the day, when all my energy is spent. I ask you to grant patience to my husband, and guard his heart from the lies of the enemy. I know this is just a season that we’re walking through, and easier days are up ahead. Give us the endurance to persevere, knowing that it will only make our marriage stronger. Let us grow closer and stronger in our love for each other as you guide us. In your precious name, Amen.
Even Jesus took time to be alone. His time of ministry was short-lived, only three years, but He walked everywhere He went and made a huge impact in those few years. He had to be exhausted, but even Jesus took breaks. If the Savior of the world can take breaks, then so can you!
It’s important that we take time to rest, to be alone, and to find quiet time with God so that we can recharge and be the very best that we can be for our children. If we are burning the candle at both ends and never finding a moment to ourselves, we only set ourselves up for failure. An exhausted mama is irritable, impatient, less attentive, and gets sick more easily. I encourage you to take the time you need, knowing that it’s for the best for you and your children.
“And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Mark 6:31 (ESV)
Oh God, I thank you for giving me the energy to be able to go, go, go from morning to night, sometimes never stopping, sometimes days on end. I am grateful that I can be everything that my children need me to be; but, if I’m being honest, I am so very tired, and this mama really needs a break. I just need time for myself, yet even the thought of slowing down and spending time on myself makes me feel guilty. Please grant me the rest that I so need right now. I know this feeling of guilt is not from you. Please provide me with a peaceful, quiet place where I can come to your fountain and be filled with your refreshing waters. I long to just soak in the presence of your love and be renewed by your Spirit. In your precious name, Amen.
I can’t even begin to count how many times I have felt like I’ll just never get it right. I mess up over and over again, and I just never seem to be as good as I know that I can be. Whether I’m comparing myself to other moms or I have let my children down, yet again, I have given up on ever being the perfect mom.
When I’m feeling down about what I lack as a mom, I try to remind myself that I’m doing the best I can. The enemy wants nothing more than for us moms to feel like we’re no good at our most important job. If he can bring us down, then our children are next.
It’s time we ease up, and rather than scolding ourselves once again for being late to school, forgetting to pick up supplies for a school project that’s due tomorrow, or shrinking our teenager’s favorite sweater, instead, we need to give ourselves a pat on the back for always being there when they need a good cry, or to give them a good laugh when they need cheering up.
We moms are just far too hard on ourselves, and it’s got to stop.
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” Galatians 6:3-4 (NIV)
Dear God, you made us perfect. When you created Adam and Eve, you made them in your image, and you saw that they were good. Even though this world is marred by sin, and what you made good has been tarnished by the enemy, you still say that I am good. Help me to see what you see. Help me to see that I am formed perfectly in my mother’s womb and that you designed me and gave me the ability to do all the things that you set before me. Help me to be the mom that my children need me to be and not compare myself to other moms. Help me to not give up when I make a mistake, but to show my children that we overcome by persevering because that is how we are made perfect and complete in you. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Check out Part 2 here.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/FamVeld
Jennifer Jabbour resides in the scenic San Diego countryside with her husband, adult son, and teen daughter, and their hilarious English Bulldog. Jennifer has a B.A. in Integrated Business Communications, and is a Go + Tell Gals licensed life coach. Jennifer hopes to use her calling of writing, coaching, and speaking to equip and empower women to clarify their vision and to boldly step forward in response to God's calling on their life, as well as educate and encourage others to experience the abundance of God's goodness when they seek Him first in all that they do. Jennifer is also a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a photographer, and an avid outdoors-woman. She loves camping, hiking, running, and playing the piano in her free time.
You can keep up with Jennifer on her website https://www.jenniferjabbour.com.