Guard Your Heart, Mom

“I had let my guard down against the enemy because, girl…I was tired and, honestly, floundering.”

“But encourage, urge and warn one another daily, as long as it is called ‘today’ so that none of your hearts may be hardened into settled rebellion by the deceitfulness of sin’s cleverness.” Hebrews 3:13

When I became a mum, I was not only a primary grade teacher but I had also read all the parenting books. Clearly, I was going to kill this mothering thing. But theory often lands differently when it’s put into practice.  Truthfully, I read all the books because I hadn’t had much of an example when it came to being an involved momma. I figured the books would make up my lack in the nurturing department. With the birth of my babies, it turned out I could in fact soothe a baby and make it thrive. But what all the reading had not explained was what to do with the feelings I myself would have. 

Those sleepless nights, frequent nursing, and the nagging feeling that I was beginning to forget who I had been, all started to weigh on my unsuspecting heart. And then the mom guilt set in and with that my heart became a playing field for the enemy. I wrestled with shame that wasn’t warranted, I internalized judgements from moms that they had never actually verbalized, and all those parenting books? They stared at me from the shelf as rulers I would never measure up to.

I had let my guard down against the enemy because, girl…I was tired and, honestly, floundering. 

But it turns out it wouldn’t be those books, or Pinterest or the pep-talks that would rescue me. What God sent me was other moms. Specifically, moms who cared to look in my face and ask me how my heart and mind were. The kind of moms who were willing to call out the lies I was believing for what they were, lies. I needed other mommas who cared for my soul to remind me to take my thoughts captive, to let go of unrealistic goals and expectations, of unearned guilt and roiling emotions and instead to lean into grace.

This verse in Hebrews is an important call to us as sisters in Christ and moms together in the beautiful trenches. As long as it is called today, may we lovingly care for the moms God has put in our circles and urge each other to clear-mindedness, to rise above the falseness of society, even above the lies of our own hearts and into the love of Jesus, the truth of His Word, and the peace of His Presence. May our hearts and thoughts and lives be ruled daily by Him alone.

Action Steps: 

• Read the following scriptures. Write them on a handful of sticky notes or paper and tape them in areas you’ll see them throughout the day. Marinate in the Truth. And the Truth will set your mind and heart free.

• 1 Peter 5:8

• John 10:10

• Proverbs 4:23 (Read multiple versions!)

• Philippians 4:8

• Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your grace is like breath to us, as necessary as the air in our lungs. Breathe Your life into ours, into our minds and our hearts. Help us to rise above the noise, to see the clutter for what it truly is and clear it out. May we spend each day thinking on Your word so that You can renew our minds. We trust You; we need You and we ask it in faith in the name above all other names, the beautiful name of Jesus.

Written by Brooke, mom of 3, here if you need rescuing