Welcome back! If you are just joining us, we are using the YouVersion Bible App to follow a devotional together. Read THIS POST to get all the information you need to join in and then you can read THIS MORNING’S POST to see the promises we are focusing on this week.

I bet you can figure out which promise I chose this week. It has a word that I love to focus on here at My Joy in Chaos. Figured it out yet? The promise I chose this week is…

Don’t quit doing the right thing – eventually joy will be yours in abundance! Psalm 126:5

How many times have I shed tears during motherhood? How many times have you? I don’t think there is a way to count. And I’m still in the early years, I know more tears are in my future.

I’ve cried over not knowing why my baby is crying. I’ve cried from spilling pumped milk. I’ve cried when the baby had a blow out after I just did a diaper change. I’ve cried when the toddler spills something all over the floor and I’m stuck on the couch nursing a new baby. I’ve cried when I’ve lost my temper and snapped at the kids. I’ve cried when they’ve cried over hurt feelings or anxiety in a new situation. And the list goes on.

I cry because I feel I’ve failed yet again or that I’m not good enough to be their mom. Have you been there? Those feelings of doubting our mothering ability sneak in so easily and begin to whisper words of inadequacy into our hearts. I begin to believe there is nothing I can actually teach my children or that I’m not the role model they need because I fail so often.

But then an older child offers a younger child a coveted stuffed toy when a knee is scraped to bring comfort. Or the little one mimics the gentle patting of a back when another is crying. Or a child befriends the quiet, shy kid at the park because they know how it feels to be on the outside. And my mama heart leaps that maybe I’m not screwing everything up after all.

There are times when we feel empty or dried out. Where we feel like we have nothing left to give and that we’ve been abandoned or forgotten. We cry out for refreshment and relief. Sow your tears in words of prayer and praise to God and you will see a harvest of joy. Sometimes those seeds take years to produce fruit but joy comes in the morning. The darkness gives way to incredible wonder as the sun rises again.

Thank you, Jesus, that you don’t abandon us when we are sad, lost, or dried out. You are always there to fill us and comfort us. I pray that every tear we shed would lead to joy in the coming days. Fill us with your peace over the sad times because we know you work all things for the good of those who love you. Amen.