I was herding the kids home from our hour-long bike ride around the neighborhood, trying to wear out the last bits of their energy before bedtime. Our only time together as a family since I’d been at work all day and they’d been in day care. She was driving home from her daughter’s playdate and stopped to visit. “I don’t know how you do it,” she said. In that moment, I guess my crazy life as a working mom seemed like too much, something she couldn’t imagine bearing. I looked back at her and repeated the same sentiment, not able to imagine being a stay-at-home mom of triplets!
How many times have you thought this about someone else’s life? I don’t know how you {fill in the blank}… How you mother a special needs child? How you care for a infirm, aging parent? How you travel for work every week and only see your family on the weekends? How you keep a smile on your face even as you suffer daily physical pain? How you carry the load when you’re asked to do the work of two people, to step way beyond your comfort zone?
Some days the truth is we don’t feel like we can do it. Some days the walls begin to close in around us and we feel trapped, enslaved to this life we’ve been given. Some days we feel like we just can’t carry on. Some days we just want more, just want something different, just want to break free of this set of trials and do more with our lives.
That evening I shrugged and replied, “you just do it.” That’s the reality of this life. We all have trials and burdens, circumstances that challenge us. The loads we’re asked to carry aren’t always easy, not always what we want for our lives, but they are ours. And we learn to live into them. We put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
So, how do we “just do it” better? How can we have more joy in our lives, despite the challenges we may face?
1) Pray and lean into God.
Trust that God will provide what we need, even when we don’t feel capable.
[guestpost]“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV) [/guestpost]
2) Look for the blessings and beauty around you and treasure those in your heart.
There will be triumphs mixed in with the trials; you just have to look for them. Celebrate those and let them carry you through the tough times that may follow.
[guestpost]I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)[/guestpost]
3) Know that you are uniquely gifted to carry your own burdens.
We aren’t called to someone else’s life, only our own. You are capable of living your life, challenges and all! You can bear all things, with God’s help!
[guestpost]I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation – when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do. Philippians 4:11-13 (ERV)[/guestpost]
Oh, to be more like Paul! To unlock that secret of living with joy through any situation, fully trusting in Christ to give us the strength to carry on!
So, let’s stop the comparisons, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and the burdens we’re asked to bear. You can do this! You just do. It’s your life, your child, your parent, your career. Your opportunity to live the life God’s given you and make the most positive impact on this world as you can!
[callout class=”callout”]NOW AVAILABLE! “Surrender Your Heart” A 21-day devotional to draw closer to the Holy Spirit. Subscribe today to receive your FREE copy!
[/callout]
Sharing with: Testimony Tuesday, UNITE, Wednesday Prayer Girls, Coffee for your Heart, #TellHisStory, Thought Provoking Thursday
“I Don't Know How You Do It” – Prayer & Possibilities
I was herding the kids home from our hour-long bike ride around the neighborhood, trying to wear out the last bits of their energy before bedtime. Our only time together as a family since I’d been at work all day and they’d been in day care. She was driving home from her daughter’s playdate and stopped to visit. “I don’t know how you do it,” she said. In that moment, I guess my crazy life as a working mom seemed like too much, something she couldn’t imagine bearing. I looked back at her and repeated the same sentiment, not able to imagine being a stay-at-home mom of triplets!
How many times have you thought this about someone else’s life? I don’t know how you {fill in the blank}… How you mother a special needs child? How you care for a infirm, aging parent? How you travel for work every week and only see your family on the weekends? How you keep a smile on your face even as you suffer daily physical pain? How you carry the load when you’re asked to do the work of two people, to step way beyond your comfort zone?
Some days the truth is we don’t feel like we can do it. Some days the walls begin to close in around us and we feel trapped, enslaved to this life we’ve been given. Some days we feel like we just can’t carry on. Some days we just want more, just want something different, just want to break free of this set of trials and do more with our lives.
That evening I shrugged and replied, “you just do it.” That’s the reality of this life. We all have trials and burdens, circumstances that challenge us. The loads we’re asked to carry aren’t always easy, not always what we want for our lives, but they are ours. And we learn to live into them. We put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
So, how do we “just do it” better? How can we have more joy in our lives, despite the challenges we may face?
1) Pray and lean into God.
Trust that God will provide what we need, even when we don’t feel capable.
[guestpost]“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV) [/guestpost]
2) Look for the blessings and beauty around you and treasure those in your heart.
There will be triumphs mixed in with the trials; you just have to look for them. Celebrate those and let them carry you through the tough times that may follow.
[guestpost]I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)[/guestpost]
3) Know that you are uniquely gifted to carry your own burdens.
We aren’t called to someone else’s life, only our own. You are capable of living your life, challenges and all! You can bear all things, with God’s help!
[guestpost]I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation – when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do. Philippians 4:11-13 (ERV)[/guestpost]
Oh, to be more like Paul! To unlock that secret of living with joy through any situation, fully trusting in Christ to give us the strength to carry on!
So, let’s stop the comparisons, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and the burdens we’re asked to bear. You can do this! You just do. It’s your life, your child, your parent, your career. Your opportunity to live the life God’s given you and make the most positive impact on this world as you can!
[callout class=”callout”]NOW AVAILABLE! “Surrender Your Heart” A 21-day devotional to draw closer to the Holy Spirit. Subscribe today to receive your FREE copy!
Sharing with: Testimony Tuesday, UNITE, Wednesday Prayer Girls, Coffee for your Heart, #TellHisStory, Thought Provoking Thursday