What am I doing?
- Cathrine Schmelzer
- Nov 24
- 5 min read
"This command from 1 Thessalonians has the potential to change our mothering, and to guide us as we lead our children to Jesus."
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Dear mom friend, what’s on your to-do list this week?
It’s Monday…so maybe you’ve made a mental note to take the turkey out of the freezer. Maybe you’re scrambling to make sure you’ve bought all the ingredients for the sides. Maybe you’re frantically cleaning your house this week. Maybe you’re juggling school schedules being different from your work schedule. Maybe you’re already looking ahead to the Christmas season and your to-do list is three pages long. Whatever you have going on this week, I’m here to pose a question, and offer a reminder.
Why are you doing what you’re doing? What is it all for?
If we’re purposed in our mothering, everything we do can be a building block towards giving our children a God-centered foundation. When we take the time to purposefully invite the Holy Spirit into our schedules, and ask for help aligning our lives (and hearts, minds, souls) with God’s will, everything else we do build’s for the kingdom. This command from 1 Thessalonians has the potential to change our mothering, and to guide us as we lead our children to Jesus.
“Rejoicing always” is hard. While holidays are generally happy times, I think we all understand that the days don’t always go smoothly, and can be very stressful. And busy. Who has time to “pray without ceasing” when you’re making four pies and a casserole? Even “giving thanks” can be difficult if our lives have been hard, and we can’t see past the hurt we’re experiencing. Sometimes we’re just distracted with too much to do.
Thankfully (see… I’m giving thanks already), we don’t have to rely on our own strength and own selves to fulfill this command. When it’s hard to do these things, we can go to God. He’s there in the melt downs. He’s in the kitchen with you while you’re cooking. He knows what you’re going through, and can even see the other side. God is here, building up our children with us, as we rejoice, pray, and give thanks, both during this busy week, and for all of our weeks to come.
Today, I encourage you to take the time to go to God and ask Him what He wants for your family this week. Ask Him what tasks/events/items need to leave your to-do list. Ask Him to show you what’s leading your children to Him, and what things are distracting you away from that leading. Ask Him to show you anything that is getting in the way of your rejoicing, praying, and thankfulness.
Faith Follow-Through:
This week, take some time to grow in motherhood and faith:
Tuesday:
Rejoice Always
Watch: Rejoicing can be difficult to understand. How can we be joyful all the time, when negative emotions happen? Watch this video that explains what it means to Biblically rejoice: What does it mean to rejoice always? Christian Questions, Moments that Matter
Go to God: God, show me what it means to rejoice. I want to rejoice always, when things are good, when things are bad, no matter the circumstances. I want my joy to be so rooted in You, in my relationship with You, that rejoicing comes naturally. Let nothing distract me from Your goodness, from Your promises, and from Your faithfulness. Let my joy be a building block in the foundation for each of my children. Amen.
Practice rejoicing: Turn every situation back to God, good and bad. When your to-do list gets overwhelming, your week gets stressful, or you have to run to Kroger…again, remember God’s great love for you and that He wants you to lay it all at His feet.
Wednesday:
Pray without ceasing
Ok, mom, I’ve got a challenge for you. Do this. Pray without ceasing. All day today, imagine God is following you everywhere you go, and talk to Him. When you’re getting ready for the day, when you’re driving, when you’re cleaning, working, doing tasks. When you’re talking to your children, your spouse, anyone around you, invite Him into the conversation. See how long you can go in conversation with God. If you get distracted, pick back up where you left off and keep going. If you run out of words to say, just sit in His presence and listen.
Thursday:
Give thanks in all circumstances
This is something I’ve struggled with a lot. Can you relate? Sometimes circumstances are bad. We’ve been hurt by people, situations, sometimes even something God has done or said no to. Sometimes motherhood can be so difficult that rejoicing, praying and being grateful are the last things on our to-do lists.
But, mom, there is a better way. Jesus came so we could live an abundant life, but that doesn’t mean everything is going to be great all the time. It just means that we’re so rooted in Him that our circumstances don’t change how grateful we are. When we remember all that God has done for, not only us, but all creation, we can’t help but rejoice with gratitude.
God created all the heavens and earth for us to enjoy. Every beautiful thing on this planet is for our benefit (Genesis 1)
God knew us before we were born (Psalm 139) and chose us for a specific purpose (Ephesians 2:10)
God didn’t want us to be separated from Him, so He sent His beloved Son to die for us, to take all of our sins upon Himself, so that through Jesus, we could spend eternity with God (John 3:16)
God has gifted us a Helper (John 14:16) that gives us good fruits for abundant living (Galatians 5:22-23)
One of the most life-changing revelations I’ve had in my walk with God is that gratitude produces joy. When we take the time to remember everything God has done (and the list above is just some of what He’s done), we can look back with gratitude and joy, and look to the future with faith, and trust, knowing that God is going to continue to be good for all of eternity. And no matter our current circumstances, we can have joy because we know our God, our Creator, our Savior, our Provider, loves us, chose us, and is for us.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Written by Cathrine, mom of 4
