Stained glass window in Krakow, Poland
“… walk in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light…” 1 John 1:7
Walking in the light is important to the life of every mother. Every single season of a mom’s life is personally and relationally taxing. Being a godly mother demands our emotional energy, our spiritual wisdom and walk with the Lord, our brains, and our time and resources as we focus on investing love, encouragement, and wisdom into our children’s souls. Because the nature of motherhood is to always give out, her mind, soul, and body are always expending resources. If the soul becomes weary, dark, exhausted, and depleted, then she will no longer have anything in her heart from which her children, husband, and friends can draw. There will only be shadows and discouragement instead of enough light to be shared with everyone nearby.”
Though I wrote these words many years ago, I know their truth more strongly today than ever!
There are many things that draw life from us. The empty vacuum of the world can suck it out as rush and hurry, darkness and trouble threaten to overwhelm. Negative people, whether those close to us who don’t understand and always seem to be questioning our motivations and decisions, or even those we encounter only briefly on the highway, the grocery store or even at church have a definite drawing-off quality all their own. Illness, natural disasters and circumstances beyond our control can assault when we’re not expecting it.
And then there are the situations intrinsic to being a mom. A feverish baby will need cuddling and cool baths and doses of medicine, often in the middle of the night. A husband needs a listening ear and attention. The kitchen counters have to be wiped down once in awhile.
If you walk by the stained glass windows above in the middle of the night, they’re not very pretty.
Similarly, a soul drained of life doesn’t display much beauty. If the light isn’t shining within, life isn’t shining without.
John 1:4-5 tells us this about Jesus: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Mark tells us that Jesus said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then in Matthew we hear that He also said, “You are the light of the world.”
If I light an oil lamp, it burns beautifully. But when the oil runs out, the flame disappears. In the same way, we are unable to burn and burn and burn without replenishing the oil in our own lamps. And when we fail to shine, the world suffers. It lacks the beauty we are created to bring to it; the beauty intended to help us lead people to Him.
The light of Jesus in us shines through the multicolored panes of glass that make up our own stained glass windows. It shows the brilliant purples and blues in the pieces that without light look dark and lifeless. It enlivens the golds and reds, makes the greens and oranges glitter. It is the light that brings out the true beauty of the window God is creating in your life.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling weary, exhausted and depleted. All of us feel that way sometimes; it is the nature of life in a fallen world.
But Jesus has light for you. You must only slow down long enough to make space to seek Him, reading His word, asking to be filled again with His Spirit. You will find He is always willing and able to flood your soul again with light.
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You can also find me writing today at Thebettermom.com
I am a recently turned 40 yr old mom of 3, with an intense year of college left, a hubby of 22 yrs who is retiring from the military due to chronic back pain/back surgery. I feel spread so thin at times.
I love the Lord, and any time spent with Him. Why is it that even after time with Him, I find it so hard to carry that joy into my daily life? I am rather introspective and introverted…
Sally, can you expound on practical ways to fill ourselves with His light, to then shine to others?
Thank you for all your encouraging posts
Oh Kristy–I have small children (3) so I am right there with you. How do I walk in the light? You are not alone Kristy. Sally as always you are always so so encouraging!
Keep shining for HIM!
Hello Kristy,
I don’t know if this will help you, but God is teaching me about surrender. (I love spending time in His Word or listening to godly teachers. I always feels so filled and so encouraged. Like I can take on the world with His love…then enter my children….the joy seems to fly away over the simplest of things.) I was reading Surrender The Heart God Controls by Nancy Leigh DeMoss this week and God is making more permanent changes in my heart.
For me the issue was anger. I often longed for peace in my home, without surrender. One day I cried out to the Lord, “What is wrong with me?!?” after losing it with my children. The still small voice offered one word. “Pride.” That was over four years ago when we were stationed at West Point, NY. This week I have laid down my right to be angry. I’ve closed the account on it. When I feel that old familiar urge, I stop and pray. I cry out to Jesus in a different way now. Instead of asking what’s wrong with me…I say, “Jesus what do you want me to say or do in this situation, please give me the words.” There is peace and freedom like I’ve never had. I’m even seeing changes in my children and my husband as they are responding to the love…His love. They are still children, fighting over things, expressing immaturity or selfishness, needing to be asked to do a task multiply times, but I am the one who is different. I find myself praising them more.
Don’t know if this applies to you in any way. I had to respond when I read your bio. We are just retired after twenty-one years in the Army. I have three boys and my man has major back injuries! What a difficult season in life. Each time I feel myself overwhelmed and reeling emotionaly I just keep reminding myself. “Sister, you are undergoing major changes here.”
Sending you Love,
Michelle in MT
Thank you Michelle. Your words mean so much. The details are to long to go into of what I am going through right now but that rings so true in my life. The issue with anger…and feeling as if I have a right to be angry. Wow, I am going to go pray and ask Him to help me overcome this as well! Thank you.
Stephanie
As always you are a blessing and an encouragement. I cannot believe I lived right next door (Palmer Lake) and never knew you!
Such good encouragement!
This little light of mine….I’m going to let it shine – and hopefully that light will flow out because of Him until my dying breath.
Deanna
Oh, this is so true! I need only to take the time to bathe in His Word and His presence, and I am filled more than anything else can fill me. Sometimes I forget that. Beautiful.
Megan @ wwwsunshinethroughthewindows.blogspot.com
So grateful to your words this evening as my light feels a wee burnt out… I shall print out this post of light beauty to post on my refrigerator door to remind me of where the Light comes from and how much I need it, moment by moment.
Thank you, Sally. I am off to read and pray. I have been discouraged and very tired and not sleeping well and I need to be refilled. Blessings.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this wisdom and beauty. God has placed an opportunity in front of me today and I have been praying for weeks now what to say. This has encouraged me beyond words. I pray His light within me will bring forth the beautiful hues He has in mind. The Holy Spirit will speak through me I pray.
Thank you for this. This is my heartbeat as well, that I would walk in the Light and lead my children from the Light.
Sally,
Thank you so much for writing this post. I have 3 small children who I love dearly and try me ever so much. I long for that reconnect with the Father and refillings of His Spirit. I completely understand and feel burnt out and empty. A started my own blog a couple months ago, but have not shared much because of the feeling that I am in no place to share and encourage others. I know that God uses us in spite of all our humanity and I pray that I can be used to touch someone else. It was encouraging for another reminder that I’m not the only one who feels like this.
Be Blessed,
Leeann
Sally, this post was so encouraging to me. In fact, so much so, that I’m sending my small community of readers over here. Your words really spoke truth to my heart this morning. Thanks so much for your encouragement and for sharing your wisdom.