The first Mother’s Day card ever made was to Eve from Abel. It said “Mom, I love and am so thankful for all you do. You are a wonderful mother but I hate how you raise Cain.” We are celebrating Mother’s Day today and here is my guess, that for all the praise you will get today, all the appreciation shown, there will be a couple of thoughts your way. 1. What about tomorrow? 2. Somewhere in your mind, you’re wondering if you really deserve it.
I say that because we live in an Instagram world, a social media world where you see the perfect moms. The ones who seem to have it all together, while you feel like you are struggling. I say that because you know the ways in which you believe you have let your kids down. I say that because there are times where you feel like you need a break from everything, while at the same time feel guilty about being away from your kids.
Today, I hope to encourage all moms that you are enough. That feeling of not measuring up and the whispers in your mind that you aren’t a good enough mom are lies. Your child sees a superhero. To them you are the best mom in the world. To them you are more than enough.
I also want to encourage you, that in those moments where you lost your temper, when you were so exhausted that you couldn’t be fully present, or in any other way wasn’t the “perfect” mom, Jesus is enough for you. His grace is sufficient and those things are not permanent. Jesus is enough for you to give you the strength and peace you need to get through everything you will face. Let Him be your enough.
Lastly, I want to get you to recognize the lie of Satan, the lies you beat yourself up with, and tell them Enough! You are not the worst things you believe about yourself. You are not the picture that Satan wants to paint. He is trying to get you to give up, because what you do, as imperfect as it may be, is so needed.
One day isn’t enough to properly express how amazing you mothers are. Everyday should be Mother’s Day. Not because you can find the lost pair of shoes, or because you can locate the object right in front of your husbands face that he couldn’t see. It’s because you are incredibly special. The love and nurture that God has ordained through you is not just a good thing, it is essential.
You are the glue of your family, the strength of its character, and the beauty of its connection. You give when there is nothing left to give. Love when the child is unlovable. Care when your emotions are spent and keep going when you’re so tired you don’t know what day it is. You are enough. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for being mom.
There is this passage in Zechariah that I want to begin today’s message with. I ask for your patience in the reading as we draw application this morning.
Zechariah 2:1-5
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
Are you constantly measuring your city? Are you comparing your life to others? Maybe just to the standard in your mind that you haven’t gotten to yet? Is your city big enough? Does my kitchen look like Pinterest? Is my city, my life as put together, organized, and planned as everyone else around me?
I heard someone say once, I do not have all my ducks in a row, I am not sure if they are even in the same pond. Stop measuring. You are enough. If you keep comparing, you are going to miss the beauty that God has for you. God is your wall; he is your source. There is a peace and contentment that He wants to give you that won’t require you to put up walls of protection. The glory of God dwells in you.
When the lie comes to you that you don’t measure up and you feel the need to put up walls of protection. When you feel the weight of having to try to be the perfect mom, wife, coworker, boss, daughter, or whatever else, remember how God sees you. You are a new creation; you are His daughter.
2 Corinthians 6:18
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
He has called you by name and made you, His daughter. Not only that, but He knew you intimately, everything about you. He knew your weaknesses and chose you. He isn’t surprised by anything. He knew who He was purchasing and what came with that. He still shed His blood for you.
Romans 5:6
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
You didn’t win a contest. You didn’t figure out the magic formula. God saw you; he chose you, and made you His own. Rest in Him. Know that you are enough and that He is enough for you. I want to give you a practical way that you can quiet the noise and rest in the truth of God. When you feel less than, when the evil one whispers in your ear, remember this. Cry out like the Psalmist.
Psalm 25:4-5
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
The devil will tell you all kinds of lies, you will tell yourself all kinds of lies, that is why all of us need to allow the Lord our God to lead us in His truth. Wait on Him. When we say wait, it means to eagerly expect, to hope it. When the negative thoughts come, it’s time to tell them “That’s enough”.
The truth is that you are the child of God and He is proud of you, He is cheering for you, but more importantly He is empowering you. If you try to do it yourself, or if your motivations are wrong, you are going to get overwhelmed.
When your child brings you something they made for you, I mean when they are like a toddler, and they bring you a picture they drew you and they have to tell you what it is because you can’t figure it out; are you happy? Do you feel pride for your child? Or do you look at them and say “this is complete garbage, a dog has for legs not three, and the sun should be yellow, not blue, and don’t even get me started on how many fingers you drew for me….”?
You’re happy right? I know I am, when my kids make something for me, it makes my day. On our best day, the things we do for God is that convoluted piece of art. It is a complete mess and yet God is smiling. He is smiling because we are giving everything we got. This should humble us, but it should also bring us great comfort. His love for us isn’t dependent on what we do. What we do for Him is born out of a deep love, not to earn it. If we get it confused, it leads to the feeling of being not enough. We become Martha.
Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Often when we look at this passage, we think it terms of work for ministry or church. That’s good and it is proper, but what if we saw ourselves in this literal situation. My guess is that you feel overwhelmed, at least sometimes, with the laundry, the dishes, cleaning the bathroom, sweeping, mopping, getting the kids to school, bath time, bed time, etc… Right?
Those things need to be done, no doubt about it. They can’t go undone, however, what we need more is to have our hearts and minds centered on Jesus. We can get so busy with the day to day that we miss the bigger picture. We need clean houses, but we need peaceful hearts more. We need to get our kids to all of their activities, but we need quality time with them more.
We can’t get so caught up it tasks that we forget relationship. Relationship with our God, relationship with our families, relationships with our neighbors. I promise you that the thing your kids, and your husbands need more than getting all those things accomplished it a heart that is centered, a mind that is focused, and a spirit that is calmed by being in the presence of Jesus.
If we stop measuring and start being, our life will be so much more fulfilling. I am not saying never serve, I am saying first things first. Come to Jesus. If you are tired, you are worn out, you feel overwhelmed, come to Jesus. This is what He said.
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest
So what does that mean? I want to end our time with some practical application on what it means to find rest in Jesus.
Name it. What is causing you stress? What is making you feel overwhelmed? What is the anxiety you feel? Be specific. Bring it to God and say exactly what it is. Be honest. Example: God I don’t feel like I am a good enough mom. I see the things the other moms do, I lose my patience with my kids, I don’t feel like there is enough time it the day, etc. Whatever it is, speak it out loud to God.
Make time for the Word. No task is more important than spending a few min every day. If you feel you don’t have enough time to spend 15-30 min a day reading the bible, you overestimate the importance of something else that you are doing. Use your lunch break, get up a few min earlier, go for a walk and listen to the bible on your headphones. Find a way.
Worship. Music is a release. Sometimes it expresses emotions we don’t know how to articulate. Bring a song of praise to God, bring a song of sadness to God, just bring Him a song.
Get together with other people. Find some peers. If you have some young children, spend some time with some moms with young children too. If you are kids are grown, find some other empty nesters and fellowship. Whatever your situation is, find some people in a similar situation and talk about it, pray about it, sing about it and be a resource for one another.
No matter what, remember you are enough. You’re not in competition with anyone. Find your identity in Jesus. Not as a mom, not as a wife, not as your career, race, nationality, or whatever other identity you place on yourself, find your identity as a daughter of the living God. He made you, and you are enough.
Then when remember you have a God who is enough. Jesus knows exactly how you feels. One of His closest friends betrayed Him. His other friends abandoned Him in His time of need. He has felt the weight of other peoples expectation and not doing what they thought He should do. He is enough for you. In the moments you feel like it is all too much, take a breathe and come to Him.
Lastly, when the accuser comes to whisper in your ear all the lies he brings you about your shortcomings, it’s time to tell him “That’s enough!” Satan came to Jesus and tried it, he will most certainly come and try it with you. Jesus told him that’s enough by saying go away basically.
You are truly superheroes, with the same power that rose Jesus from the dead living inside of you. Remember that, believe that, and live that.