The poignant and powerful posts written by beautiful mamas and women of God, leading up to Mother’s Day with long lines of flowery words that strung together like a garlands of grace that cascaded into this week, left me rather silent, holding back my own. And it’s no fault of theirs, but the enemy has a way of pointing words directly to our insecurities, does he not?

And I’m hesitant to offer any of my words, today. Like one who is drowning in debt giving advice about living in financial freedom, how can a weary mama offer hope to another? Except for this, “It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose…” (Phil 3:10-11)

But that is what this walk, this race, this fight is all about isn’t it? “The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14) And to not give-up in the pursuit.

Right now, that upward call has been answered through motherhood.

I have to be honest in saying that as a mama I feel I’ve gotten it wrong more times than right. I’m still learning how to be the mother God has called me to be. I’m still learning to walk by grace — always in the process.

As a mama we are on the front lines because there is an enemy and a culture fighting to take captive our children’s souls. Not always, but sometimes it feels like I am pressing hard against the darkness that is warring for the hearts of my children. And lately, it’s been one in particular.

Our enemy is relentless and is strategic in his attack that is always on his terms without our consultation. And that is why we must remain vigilant. But I must admit, I’m not always. And I know it’s not always a spiritual attack, but sometimes it is. I forget “our wrestling is not just with flesh and blood, but against world forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness.” (Eph 6:12) And what better opportunity for the prowler seeking whom he may devour than the one who is already weak? (1 Pet 5:8)

And I miss it, while I scamper and scurry, hurry and hasten through the busyness of my days, unaware of my own self growing weary tending to it all in my own strength. All the while the enemy lurks, sly and cunning for that opportune time — for me to fall asleep. And not the elusive nighttime kind of sleep, but the kind the Word beckons us to awake from, so we may be careful how we walk. Not as the unwise, but the wise. (Eph 5:14-15)

On Mother’s Day, I didn’t see it coming. Instead of the rest I thought I’d find, I was awakened as a warrior. Words slashed and doors slammed, and I had to be careful not to make my child the enemy. I stood outside the locked bedroom-door, and the locked heart-door, with the determined one dealing with a fireball of emotions and raging hormones that were too overwhelming for the child and mama to manage. And all I could do is seek the One who could.

I know and sometimes forget, that I must lean in and rely on God’s grace. He fills in all the missing pieces, the broken parts and the cracks and blemishes and makes us whole — even our family, whole.

Precious mama, I’m with you, and let’s keep going. We may grow tired while we are doing what is good, but we must not ever tire of doing what is good. The promise is ours, “At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Gal 6:9)

And this is the good fight of faith. We are not giving up!  

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Each Thursday, one of us from Team Hope will write a letter to a weary mom—an encouragement—and post it on Hope for the Weary Mom blog. At the end of the post, we’ll invite you to join in by writing your own “Dear Weary Mom,” post and linking it up. Click here to learn more…