A Remedy For Weary Mamas: Parenting With Your Eyes Up
I’m a morning person. I love waking up before the sun to get a workout in, spend some time with God, and fill my bucket before my kids start making their way down the stairs. It’s a gift to start the day ready to face what God has for me. I’m ready to love my family well!
But then, the day goes on. Between breakfast meltdowns, rushed routines and lunches being made, my heart and mind start to fade. By the time we’re getting out the door to school, the gravitational pull of my flesh and my anxiety is strong. My intentions to live the fruit of the spirit in patience and self-control starts to waiver.
But why do we struggle to finish the day with the good intentions we started with?
I spend a lot of my free time running. Most runners know that when you are deep in a race or a difficult workout, it’s natural for your head and eyes to shift towards the ground. Often, in the later moments in a race, a coach will yell out “eyes up, eyes up.” When you start to struggle, it’s so easy to lose focus on where you are going, that the finish line is near. The simple practice of lifting your eyes, changes your posture, and your focus, to what’s to come rather than the difficulty of the moment.
God has prompted me recently that this same practice applies to my spiritual life. When the struggles of laundry, work and whiny kids start to overtake my day, I start to let my eyes drift downward instead of focusing them back on Christ and the strength and peace that He promises.
This practice reminds me of Peter’s words to the church of Corinth. The city was a thriving community, and some in the early church were struggling with a divided heart. They were passionate about their faith, but also easily dragged down by the distractions of their surroundings. Peter warns them:
“I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is fading away.”
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (the MSG)
So, how do we shift our focus to God when the challenges and trials of our day bring our eyes, and our spirit downward?
STOP STRIVING.
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10
The command “cease striving” comes from the Hebrew imperative verb meaning “sink down, let drop, relax.” Most people quote this verse in a soothing, reassuring tone, like a serene invitation to enjoy the fellowship of God. Instead, biblical scholars tell us it’s more of a command. To stop trusting in our own strength and instead place our faith in God’s promises.
Do we really trust that God is good? If so, we need to stop striving and pray more with our eyes UP. When we feel the need to do all the things to achieve significance in our day or prove our worthiness as moms, we need to remind that His strength and power is made perfect in our weakness.
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.
As I mentioned, I feel so strong and calm after my morning time with the Lord. The example of a time alone with God is necessary and biblical (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35).
“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,”
Matthew 14:23
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Mark 1:35
However, the Bible also talks about the practice and necessity of prayer as a rhythm of our life:
“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
If we set reminders throughout the day, not just in our “quiet time,” to turn to God, ask for His help to guide us and provide for us, we are accomplishing His will. He doesn’t desire for us to rely on our strength, when He is ready to equip us with exactly what we need in every circumstance of the day. So, set alarms, post-it notes, signposts, whatever it takes; to remind your mind, and your heart to turn to him amid the tantrums, meltdowns, and challenges each hour brings.
SET OUR MINDS ON ETERNITY.
Some days parenting just feels hard, thankless and hopeless. We question why we are pouring our lives into something that is so underappreciated by much of the world.
Living with an eternal perspective reminds us that there is so much more to motherhood than changing diapers and dirty dishes. Thinking about the hope of Heaven reminds us that we are raising souls that will live for eternity. What joy and purpose there is in that incredible mission! When we lift our eyes up to remind ourselves of the joy in store for us, and our kids, it shifts our gaze. The daily grind does have purpose, and the rewards are far greater than what we will experience on earth. Moses stayed faithful to God because he did just that. (Hebrews 11:26).
“…he was looking ahead to his reward.”
Hebrews 11:26
I am convinced God wants to encourage us mamas today. He desires to be with you in every moment of the day. Be reminded, in the mundane of carpool, laundry, and whiny kids, that we have a God who provides so much hope, not only in this world, but also in the next.
If you would like to know more about how to find a Godly perspective and stay content in the midst of the daily struggles of parenting, listen to this Spotify podcast below:
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