I have learned a lot since becoming a Mother.  In my mid-twenties, before marriage and parenthood, I asked God to help me to develop humility, selflessness, patience, and self-control.  You know how people say that God answers our prayers, but not always the way we hope – well, let me tell ya somethin’ — never have I had to work so hard on developing those four traits than after my first daughter was born.  And since my second child arrived, I daily add more and more to the above list, traits I thought I had already “mastered” – HA!   Seriously, motherhood is tough! No huge revelation there, I know, but thus said, I would like to share my “growing pains” with you in hope that you will come to realize that:  1) You are not alone in your struggles and negative feelings. 2) You are often your own worst enemy (so stop listening to those negative thoughts in your head, open your Bible or phone a friend).  3) You must give your life and the lives of your children completely over to God through constant prayer.

Currently, I work part-time from home to stay with my two girls, ages four and almost two.  However, with only one child, I worked full time away from home while also trying to start a small, side business, and many feelings and emotions constantly assailed me then, as well as now.   Whether we work outside the home or in the home, full-time or part-time, we must always remember these words in Colossians 3:23, which I remind myself twenty or thirty times a day: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”   Although motherhood yields great joy, not to mention, wonderful hugs and lots of giggles, it can be thankless, exhausting, and downright discouraging more often than not.  Nonetheless, it is the MOST important work we do while here on earth — rearing warriors for His Kingdom.

In the next few posts I would like to share ten subjects that mothers and most all women, actually, struggle with each and every day.   While many of these examples involve growing a young family, some of these issues affect us at many stages of life.  Like I’ve stated before, serious trouble lies just around the corner when my mind runs astray, listening to the other voice inside my head, thus acting out of fear or worry.   Y’all, the devil wants to tear us down, and he is SO tricky, for he knows exactly how to distract us, to prevent us from loving ourselves and others, and to keep us from living for God.  Instead of seeking help from other Believers, or opening my Bible, I confess that all too often, I let these crippling thoughts ruin a day, a week, and even months, and many of you do the same.  I know because you have told me. We all have ungodly thoughts, and Satan’s tactics to defeat us changes from day to day. Actually, it seems that when I experience victory on one spiritual front, another front opens up soon thereafter.  Nevertheless, God doesn’t leave me to fight the evil one alone, for He promises to NEVER LEAVE ME, NOR FORSAKE ME. (Hebrews 13:5)  And that promise if for you, too.

So why am I writing this?  Because it is my prayer that after reading about my spiritual battles, you will take heart when you feel like you are the only woman struggling with living life the way God intends for us to live.  You see, although frequently told by others that I am one of the most “put together” of persons —  a woman with a plan, a woman with confidence and a woman without fear, that is simply not altogether true.  Yes, I am some of those things, but a closer look reveals that frequently, I am none of those things.  From around ages twelve to twenty-seven, I wrestled with some serious matters and with God.  It was not until I completely gave my life to Him and decided that I was NOT going to let this world or anyone else determine my value, my beauty, or my happiness that things changed, and that I’ve lived happily ever after – uh, nope, such is not the case because Satan continues to attack where and when I’m weakest, and I still sometimes question God.  So what has changed? Now, I do not remain hopeless, or always worthless, overcome with anxiety because Christ lives in me and has put in me a true, real sense of knowing that He is always with me, even till the end ends of the earth. (Matthew 28:20)  What’s more, I know that one day I will be with Him, my redeemer and friend.  In the meantime, I strive to delight myself in the Lord so He will give me the desires of my heart, desires to reflect Him in all I say and do.