This is something that many of us need to come face to face with.
It is a heart-of-hearts kind of issue, deeper than many of the topics being tackled in women’s circles at this moment.
Many of us are at home with our children, but our hearts have drifted far away.
We rush through our responsibilities and relationships with our family, so we can get to our own passion projects: our blog, our business, our book, or whatever venture has stolen our heart.
And here is the tricky thing: Right now, all of the articles, all of the advice, all of the everything is AFFIRMING our plans for ourselves. The Christian community at-large has even taken a sharp lean toward empowering women to be more self-regarding and entrepreneurial. This is not always a bad thing, and as a woman, I am grateful for the many roads that have been paved for my gender.
BUT, in the most influential messages that are reaching our ears and our hearts- not many are speaking of the priorities God’s word calls women to:
Surrender, humility, submission to our husbands, and being good mommies.
(Eph 5:22, Col 3:18-21, Titus 2:5, 1Peter 3:1, Eph 6:4, 1Tim 3:4-5)
These are the high callings on a women’s life!
These are beautiful, godly and more powerful and relevant than ever!
But most of us have had our heart stolen away to the tune of something that seems so good and appealing to our own sense of success. This is not the way to godliness.
I believe that the enemy is perfectly content to have a mom physically at home, so long as he can steel, mess-with, and ultimately mess up her heart. Get her so self-focused that she is no longer any kind of threat for the kingdom of God, but only works tirelessly to better herself.
Be on guard!
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8)
If you are not spending daily time with God, in prayer, reading your word and SURRENDERING your plans to let Him unfold them how and when He would like, then chances are you are in the throes of deception.
But the great news is that God always offers us a new start and such endless grace. If you feel you have gotten so off course and wrapped up in your own plans, I would suggest doing a fast and praying for God’s direction over your life.
A few months ago, I was in an unclear place, pushing forward in my own plans and dreams, with my heart slowly drifting from my family. God was so gracious to show me, adjusted me and put me back on a healthy path with Him- with my husband and my children properly prioritized in my life.
So my advice to you is simple: Go to Him and ask. Ask Him to show you and reveal HIS will for your life and your time right now.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)
If you continually surrender yourself and lay your desires at His feet; continue to seek your promise-land in HIM, I believe He will ultimately give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
But outside of His plan, His will, and His order of things, you will always be stretching and manipulating, and neglecting that which is most important.
Whatever our work, our calling, our ministry in life- we should always be aiming and prioritizing to grow closer to Jesus, and his plans for our marriage and motherhood. These are the most beautiful, difficult and ultimately maturing factors- the refining fires for our hearts to grow and be able to truly give and minister from a selfless place!
Don’t quit, Mama!