You Are Made for This: 14 Devotions to Uplift & Encourage Busy MomsSample

Pause and Breathe

"Be still, and know that I am God.” PSALM 46:10

Let's face it—we’ve all reached our breaking points before. We’ve all raised our voices, slammed doors, cried out of anger, and maybe even canceled evening plans because we hit our allotted amount of stress and frustration for the day. And while we all have different factors that set us off, we’ve all had those moments when enough was enough. We are, after all, human.

No one feels good about losing it. For most of us, it takes five to ten minutes before the regret and mom guilt kick in because we know we didn’t handle the situation correctly. And the truth is, Mama, your kids are watching how you react, and they are learning from you. Now, you have to give yourself grace. You can take a moment for a deep breath, calm down, apologize for your actions, and try your best to do better next time. And then when you start to feel as if you are on the brink again, try finding an empty room, pause, take deep breaths, and ask God to help you through it. Remember, Mama, spilled milk may be big in the moment, but having a lens of grace with your kids and with situations you face can help you live more like Jesus. Remember that He is in control and can change your perspective and your response. His presence can take you from a place of extreme stress and frustration to a place of serenity and strength.

It’s okay, Mama. No, this wasn’t your best moment. This isn’t one for the scrapbooks. But in the long run, your children will remember how you made them feel over the 18 (or more) years of their childhoods. They will look back and see the few times you lost it as just that—the few times that Mom lost it. So breathe and take in God’s grace, and next time, remember to pause, be still, and know that God is in control.

Made for This!

You are a mother, and you are human. There are going to be moments when you lose your patience and feel overwhelmed. It’s just going to happen! The good news is you can tap into God’s love and patience anytime, and He will lend it to you. And when He gives you grace for the moment, He enables you to pass it on to your family. These moments don’t define who you are, and they don’t define what kind of mother you are. Remember God is using your motherhood journey to bring you closer to Him, so you are growing and learning too. This was just a learning moment—nothing more, nothing less.