One day, when I was in the kitchen doing dishes, my husband was in the living room playing with the kids. I smiled to myself as I heard their laughter. They kept laughing more and more, and finally, I went into the living room to watch. Before long, I found myself laughing right along with them. It made my heart glad to see my children having fun. I love to hear them laugh!
Where is the joy in motherhood?
I remember returning to the kitchen to finish doing the dishes and thinking: If I get so much joy out of seeing my children laughing, how pleased the Lord must be when he sees His children filled with joy! I bet God just loves to watch us laugh and have a good time. He probably laughs along with us at times. The Lord must especially delight when he sees our hearts overflowing with His joy. But how often does He see that?
What does it mean to lose yourself in motherhood? It’s easy to get so busy and burdened down with our duties that we lose the joy of the Lord. He doesn’t get to hear the laughter that flows from the joy He gives us. Have you lost your joy?
Here are some of the common reasons you have lost your joy as a mom:
1. Fatigue
If you’re worn out, slow down and get some rest. Let the things go that don’t matter, and focus on your priorities. The rest of those things REALLY can wait! (One of your priorities should be to get enough rest!)
2. Circumstances
It’s very easy as homeschooling moms to be joyful on the days that the kids are all behaving, the school schedule is just moving right along, and things are running smoothly. Being realistic, though, not all days are going to be like that, and we have to maintain the right spirit despite the circumstances and how things may be going.
3. Discouragement
Perhaps you are discouraged about the behavior of one of your kids, or you feel discouraged about your homeschool. Discouragement is normal, but you can’t give in to it. How do you find yourself again as a mom? When discouragement comes, talk to a friend who will encourage you. Often, just sharing what we are discouraged about with someone who has similar struggles is a big help.
Also, learn how to encourage yourself in the Lord! Find verses that will lift your spirit when you are discouraged, and sing songs and hymns that minister to your spirit.
I love this verse in I Samuel 30:6: ….but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God
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4. Hormone imbalance
If you are struggling with more discouragement than usual, or even with depression, it could be that your hormones are out of balance. That can drastically change your outlook on things! (My series HOMESCHOOLING & HORMONES will help if you are struggling with hormonal issues.)
5. Wrong Thinking
When we are tired or discouraged, it’s EASY to listen to the wrong voices, rather than to the Voice of Truth. How do I find myself again during motherhood? When you find yourself thinking you aren’t qualified, or you are a failure, etc. REFUSE THOSE THOUGHTS and replace them with the truth. Again, go to God’s Word and claim verses to help you think His thoughts.
6. Comparison
It is SO easy to look at what others have and think they have it all together, or are doing more than we are with our kids/homeschool, or are doing better than we are, etc. What we fail to remember is that each family and home is different, and what works for them may not work for us. God calls each family to different things, so we must not compare ourselves to others!
We must keep our eyes on God, rather than others, or we risk losing our joy as a mom. I don’t know about you, but I want my kids to remember me as a A Joyful Mother. Joy is a choice that I need to choose daily, but in order to do that, I have to regularly encourage myself in the Lord.
What are you allowing to steal your joy? Ask God daily to help you overcome those things, and help you to be filled with His joy!
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