When it all feels like too much

My life is pretty adventurous with a husband, four kids, and 75 hormonal 8th graders. My friends often tell me that we should pitch for a reality television show. In all of the adventure, some days tend to be very overwhelming. I have an escape route all mapped out and hope no one catches me running away. I have quite a few friends that feel this way as well, but instead of hopping the next flight out, we must learn how to stay grounded in the midst of the chaos.

A lot of times I have to remind myself that this is the life you wanted and this is what you prayed for, but when the going gets tough we want to point the fingers and bail. There are two lessons to be learned here. 1. Be careful what you pray for and 2. If God brought you to it, he will bring you through it; otherwise, you are on your own. Now, don't get me wrong, I would not trade my children and my husband for all of the tea in China but sometimes I do which I could let someone borrow them and bring them back.

In those moments of "Can you please come borrow these people", I have to cling to God. He provides me with the peace of mind that he has this handled already. All I have to do is keep my cool and as I read the other day, "Faith it till I make it".

On those days when your children are hanging from the rafters, faith it till you make it.
When your husband can't seem to get down off of his high horse, faith it till you make it.
When work is so overwhelming that you begin to question your sanity as to why you chose this job in the first place, faith it till you make it. You get my drift. Just hang in there, and remember that God is always there. We are the ones that forget to use him most of the time. Women are perfectionists and we like to think that we have it all together, but we don't. If we did, why would we need God?

"Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rests in your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30.

Life is a Process

 "Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion--it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ." -Billy Graham

I was reading the other day where women are around the age of 34 when they reach maturity and men are like 42 (that is a discussion for another time). I find this to be pretty accurate. I turned 35 this year and I feel so much stronger and confident in myself as well as my decision making process. Now one thing I have to add here is that I did not do it alone. I also have to add that there is also an exception to every rule. There are some 65 year olds that have the maturity level of a pre-teen. That is also a conversation for a later date. The point that I am attempting to make here is that God brought me to this place, and while I am not where I need to be, I am thankful that I am not where I used to be. 

Spiritual maturity is a process.  I was one to go through the motions of reading the bible, having my daily devotions, going to church, etc., but I truly did not have a real understanding of what was going on. The desire was there, but the process was in the early stages. I think a lot of times either people do not recognize that there is a process, they want to think that they are further along in the process than they truly are. or some of us want to rush the process. What we must realize is that everything will happen in God's perfect timing. We just have to trust and have faith until the process is finished.

Know that you will face many challenges in this life. God truly wants to refine us and make us whole. If you never understand or embrace the process, you will falter. People will make you feel that you are not worthy of the process because of your past. There will be times throughout the process that you just want to throw in the towel.  Trust in the Lord every step of the way, and he will provide for your every need throughout the process.