We have all heard the illustration that when a cup is bumped what is inside the cup will spill out, demonstrating the fact that what is in our heart will come out when our heart is “bumped.”.

I love when life is easy. When there is enough money, my husband and I are in complete agreement about everything, the kids are perfectly behaving, the extended family is loving and pleased… You get the idea. Everything is “hunky-dory”. In those times, joy comes easy. Love seems to overflow. Everything is beautiful. BUT life often is not perfect. Why does God allow trials to come, relationships to struggle, life to “hit bumps”? I believe, in part, it is to reveal to us what has been in our hearts all along. He reveals character flaws and – yes, lets call it what it is- sin so that we can deal with it.

The Bible states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)

When we first meet Rachel in the Bible, she seems a beautiful person; but as her life becomes complicated and even unfair, the real Rachel “spills out”. We see her to be a very selfish,competitive, manipulating person, who looked to others and even idols to supply what only God could give her. Her beauty was only skin deep. Inwardly, she was a very ugly, unhappyperson. Though she eventually received her most sought-after desires; she died leaving them for others to raise. 

Is life a little hard right now? Are you experiencing feelings of frustration, discontentment, etc.? Have these feelings spilled out to others?

Thankfully, we are not dead. There is hope. We can allow God to cleanse our hearts. (Ps. 139:23,24) We can refocus and surrender to God’s inward working (Phil 2:13) so that no matter what “bumps” us, we can spill out the love and grace of God. The story of Job has taught us that everything we go through has at least three purposes: to accomplish something in our life, to comfort and help others, and to bring God glory. (James 5:10,11) Only a right response to the trials in our life can accomplish all of these purposes or in the words of our illustration, “ spill out” God’s purpose straight from our Holy Spirit- controlled heart.

By Katie Ledbetter

Dear precious mommas,

You’re in the most wonderful years of your life. The Lord is blessing your home with children and your hearts desires are being fulfilled. At home you are finding your schedule that works best as you strive to raise young ones to someday become fully functioning adults that benefit this world. You also have another hearts desire – to see your children come to Christ, love Him, and serve Him.

With this desire you put them in the car seat, drive them to church, and then miss the entire service taking care of their needs. You arrive home off schedule and exhausted with a baby who now wants to cry, eat some more, and falls back to sleep just in time to be placed in their carseat and driven back to church where they will wake up and cry and you’ll most likely miss another service sitting in a classroom, nursery, bathroom, or some hallways just trying to hear even a tiny portion of the service.

Many momma’s at this stage start missing church. They get so discouraged and tell themselves going to church is pointless. They say they are getting nothing out of it and their child is too young to benefit at all so they will just go again when the child is older. Anyone who has been in this situation understands the logic and if we’re being honest we’ve all cried in that nursery, classroom, bathroom, or hallway a time or two. Before you were a momma you had a freedom you probably took for granted. You had the ability to listen, learn, and grow in every church service you attended. Your heart will now long for that in these years.

So, why put yourself through it? Why the hassle? 

There is one simple answer that I’ll give at the end but until we get there let’s look at other things you do for your child that are of no benefit to you personally. 

You bathe your child.  This is a back breaking task that leaves you often soaked and sore but you do it anyway because you want to teach your child good hygiene and you know it’s just the right thing to do. 

You feed your child. Whether it’s breast or bottle feeding a baby stops you in your tracks, keeps you from achieving anything productive, and can leave you sore and tired in the process. You do it because it’s best for your baby to grow. 

You clothe your child. This is not necessary is it? I mean this baby could be wrapped in blankets until it’s two and no one is gonna care right? But, no, you wrestle little head, arms, and legs to make that cute little monster as adorable as possible. This creates more work for you with laundry and more expense but you don’t care because you love that baby and you want what is best to be shown on the outside. 

These are just a few things we do as mom’s that we don’t have to do but it’s a benefit to the baby and we do them because we are lovingly teaching them how to become a functional human being. So, why church when you’re stuck getting nothing and it seems to make life harder on the baby and on you? 

Simply because you are teaching your child to be faithful in the hardest of times. You teach them through that bath about hygiene, you teach them through feeding them about sacrifice, and you teach them by clothing them about love. Going to church and being faithful even when it’s hard teaches them about faithfulness and obedience in a way that they may never remember but in a way that sets a pattern for their life. 

Do you remember your first bath? Do you remember who taught you to eat or who taught you how to put your clothes on? If you were raised in church do you remember when you learned it was right to go even when you were hurt in church or unhappy or maybe feeling like staying in bed? You probably don’t remember but you do know inside yourself that it’s just right to go no matter what. Do you remember when you first learned to listen to the pastor and listen to God’s Word? You probably don’t but to this day you know it’s right.  

Momma, these days are not easy days, but these days you have an opportunity to teach your babies invaluable lessons. They won’t look at you in the next few years and ask, “Are we going to church?” on Sunday. They will ask, “When are we leaving? Can we get in the car? Can I sit with my friends today? Can I give in the offering?” 

In those times Momma when you’re in that nursery, classroom, bathroom, or hallway and you want to give up, instead become a prayer warrior for your church, your pastor, your church family, your children, and your husband. You are being given an opportunity away from home to do something special for The Lord that only you can do. You are raising the next generation and pointing them to Him. You are showing your children what obedience to God’s Word looks like in the hard times. They may never remember where or when they learned it but someday it may be what carries them through. Don’t get weary in well doing! 

2 Thessalonians 3:13 KJV
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 

Galatians 6:9 KJV
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

With much love,
From a mom who’s been there