Oh, the end-of-school season. Moms know that this time of “winding down the school year” actually means more chaos for us.
‘Tis the season of teacher appreciation gifts, and sports competitions, and banquets, and award ceremonies, and school spirit weeks. It’s planning for the summer, fighting for spots in day camps, buying tickets to travel. Father’s Day is coming up, too. (If anyone figures out gift ideas that dads actually love, would you give me a call, please?)
And I don’t know about you, but I haven’t really been able to shake my exhaustion since January. I’m guessing it’s a combination of the still-mostly-rainy-and-cold Pacific Northwest spring and the residual pandemic aftermath, right alongside the general everyday details of adulting and parenting that don’t ever seem to slow down.
I can’t tell you how many conversations I’m having with other women who know what it means to just feel tired all the time. Where does the energy come from? Will enough self-care and mom’s nights out cover it?
Moms, the tired is REAL.
Here’s what I know, first and foremost: Rest is both available to us, and waiting for us. God empathizes with our weariness and meets us in our weakness.
Hebrews 4:9-11 tells us: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
If this all seems conflicting, stay with me. When we believe, we actually enter God’s rest now–relief from the necessity to prove our worth, or to earn salvation and reconciliation with him. We find righteousness through grace and hope for the present time. And if we hold on to our belief and don’t fall into the pattern of disobedience, we have a rest from the hardships of a broken world to look forward to with God someday.
The author of Hebrews goes on to tell us why we can trust God at our weakest–because he actually relates to us. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Before we get into any kind of practicals to beat our exhaustion, we need to know what we have available to us, from a God who sees us and loves us deeply.
We can rest here from people-pleasing and trying so hard to establish our worth. We can also approach God in our weakness because he came here to experience life like we do, and he knows how hard it is. Take comfort in these truths.
Yes and…how do I stop feeling so tired??
Friend, I get it. We want answers! We need relief! And honestly, I’m still working this out for myself. But here are ways I’ve found that help to tackle the tired in everyday life.
Address your physical needs. Set up an appointment with your doctor and make sure your body has the right resources. (Considering where we live in the rainy PNW, maybe talk about Vitamin D.)
Start your day peacefully. Before you grab your phone and instantly start scrolling the news or emails, get some quiet and still time with God. Take time for gratitude, requests, scripture, and even just sipping your coffee or tea in silence with him.
Schedule time for rest and recovery. In this season, it’s basically a given that our schedules are going to fill up. Pencil in (or set a block of time in Google Calendar for) intentional down time, family time, even nap time.
Move your body. However you can! Work a walk into your day, take the stairs, get a full workout in the morning, stretch, or do a Pilates video on YouTube. Something to get your heart pumping.
Play worship music. (Shameless plug for our favorite radio station, Spirit 105.3!) Let the words remind you of God’s constant presence in your life, of his worthiness to be praised, and of the peace he offers.
Practice mindfulness. One reason we get so depleted is that we live in constant “go” mode, often thinking ahead and stewing in so many details that our heads spin. Focus on the present: on this event or quiet moment or meal. Be here now.
Ask for help. We are not islands! Reach out to your neighbors, family, friends, or church community. Delegate a task, or ask for extra support, whether prayer or meals or errands. You don’t have to do it all on your own.
Say no. I’m not kidding. Take a minute when presented with a request, and consider whether or not you have the capacity to take it on. Clearing out what you can’t do (or can’t do well) opens up space for someone else to rise to the occasion.
Friends, in this chaotic season, let us hold onto what is most important.
I love this verse in Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV:
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
When our identity is not determined by proving or striving or earning or perfection, when what matters most is being with God and faithfully attending to the roles he has given us to do–we will find refreshment and renewal in him. It’s a promise.
PIN THIS!
Read more of Jenn’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
