Adding a new baby to our family has made life a little busier…to say the least. When everyone says it’s more challenging and tiring going from one child to two, they aren’t lying.
We all go through busy seasons of life and some feel much more overwhelming than others. It’s easy to feel over-stretched and far from our “normal” selves when we’re in the midst of chaos, busy schedules and people or things demanding our time and energy.
No matter what our circumstances are, we have a solution..and it’s really the only viable one. God is our only source of contentment in any season of life. The busy, the slow-moving and the every day in between.
Never Too Far
There have been numerous times in my adult life when I’ve felt so far removed from God, I wasn’t sure how I’d ever reconnect. Most of those times weren’t because of some traumatic event or disheartening encounter. It was simply due to my lack of effort in the relationship. The most important relationship – the one involving God.
In those situations I tend to make excuses in order to cover my laziness and lack of effort with the Lord. The “busyness” of life gets in the way, things are too overwhelming, I’m too stressed – all excuses I’ve made in my dry seasons. The simplest reason, however, is that I allow worldly things to come first. My desire to be liked by others is too often more important than my desire to honor and please the Lord.
The one thing I’ve learned through all my dry seasons with God is that I’m never too far removed from Him. He will continually draw me to Him and will never ever give up on me. He’s still there working through me and will always love me no matter how far I drift away. There’s always opportunities for me to return to His presence and fall in love all over again. That is the definition of grace and I’m so incredibly thankful for it.
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40
Sneaky Discontentment
One thing I’ve learned through this season of mothering a toddler and an infant is that it’s challenging, and discontentment can sneak in without a moment’s notice. The first couple of weeks went by in a blur of changing diapers, feedings, preparing meals, baths, changing clothes and so on as the days flew by (but also drug on). Throw in a little sleep deprivation and I was suddenly far from my laid-back, easy-going self. I felt out of sorts and not like myself at all.
During those first weeks I knew something was “off” about me and I couldn’t quite place it. All the times the doctors asked if I had the “baby blues,” I knew that wasn’t what was going on. It wasn’t a pride thing, I just knew there was something else happening in me. I think I knew all along what it was. I wasn’t connected to God and I definitely wasn’t making Him a priority in my new stage of life. I kept excusing it because I was “busy” and my hands were just too full to make extra time for God.
The time finally came when I decided I wasn’t okay with feeling discontent and disconnected from the Lord. It was up to me and me alone to change that. Sure, my life is busier now with two kids and my time is mostly preoccupied with my two sweet boys, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find time for God as well. I have to work harder to make it a priority and I need to guard it as a necessity in my everyday routine. Without making time for Him, my life is filled with frusturation, confusion and ultimately discontentment.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” -Hebrews 10:22a
Start Somewhere
When we get to places of discontentment and feel far from God, we have to make a decision to change that. It doesn’t happen all at once and isn’t an easy process, but it’s attainable and definitely worth it.
The first thing I decided to do was talk openly about my feelings with my husband. He’s someone I trust and I truly value his opinions and advice. We all need someone that we can be 100% real and vulnerable with. He simply reminded me that I am more than just a mother to our children. God created me for other purposes as well, and I was so consumed with being a new mom of two that I abandoned the other things God called me to.
I had to stop trying to do things (devotionals, Bible studies, watching sermons, etc.) in order to grow closer to God. I needed to simply just be present with Him. Every day. Sure, that might be through reading and studying His Word, doing a devotional or watching a sermon, but He needs me to simply acknowledge Him and depend on Him throughout my day.
As I’ve been present with God and making time to simply abide in Him, I’ve been more content and feel like I’m fulfilling the purpose He’s given me. I’ve also felt like a better wife and mom. That’s exactly what God wants from each of us. Not to be perfect, Instagram-worthy parents, spouses and people, but to be obedient and present with Him. He alone helps us become the best versions of ourselves and guides us through our day-to-day lives.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” -1 Timothy 6:6
Consistency Is Key
As a professional consistency-breaker, I will admit it’s a difficult thing to be consistent. I like to jump into things and I’m good at being consistent for a period of time. Once I get distracted, bored or discouraged, I’m often derailed from staying on track. I do this with working out, new projects and especially with my relationship with God.
Frankly, I’m tired of being flaky when it comes to God. He deserves my time and attention more than anyone or anything. If I want to experience true contentment in every season of life, for the remainder of my life, I must give Him my first and best every day. No matter how much I love my family and friends, they can’t fill the void only meant for God to consume. By simply abiding in God’s presence each day, I can trust in His faithfulness and be filled with true peace and joy.
With each new season we face, we’re thrown new obstacles we must be guided through. God is the only one who can do that for us, effortlessly. It’s easy to get swept into the stress, the mundane and the challenges, but we must remember the One who is with us through it all. He is steadfast in His love for us, no matter how many times we mess up and drift away from Him. In every season of life, even the truly difficult ones, we can find contentment when we seek Him above all else.
“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” -Deuteronomy 4:29