Raise your hand if you feel like the well-being of a tiny human (or humans) is resting on your shoulders? Seriously! One thing I did not expect about motherhood is the exhaustion that comes from worrying about the every need of another person. What are they going to eat for breakfast? Does their morning snack have any nutritional value? Are they tired? Do they need a nap between this activity and that? Are they learning their letters? Their numbers? Their fruit? Can they identify a plum?!

Sigh. It’s tough work. Talk about some mental fatigue.

I’m reading about Hannah, the mother of Samuel, in preparation to teach at the monthly women’s gathering at our church. Here are a couple reminders from her life:

First, “she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord…”. Let’s remember that in every bit of anxiety or despair or moment of distress, our first response should be to pray to the Lord. This doesn’t look pretty always. It says that Hannah wept bitterly. I don’t know about any of you, but I can certainly say that there have been times where I have prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. He is our loving Father; he can handle our emotions. Don’t feel like you have to get yourself together before you meet with the Lord. In your distress, pray to Him.

Second, trust Him. I constantly have to remind myself that GOD. IS. IN. CONTROL. Pull yourself together, Lauren. After Hannah prays, it says that she “went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad”. God hadn’t yet answered her prayers. She doesn’t know yet that she’s going to be blessed with a son. But after she prays to the Lord, she goes away and her face is no longer sad. She no longer carries the burden of her barrenness, but she has left her circumstances in the hands of God. And her hope is in Him. Plus, she ate, and I feel like that’s something we can all enjoy.

Third, respond with worship. I don’t want to miss here that Hannah also responds in obedience. When Hannah prayed for a son, she told the Lord that if he blessed her with a son, she would give her son back to him to serve him. And she does just that. I think it would be really easy to throw a bunch of promises God’s way and then conveniently forget them once He gives me what I want. But she doesn’t do that. She remembers, and she responds with grateful obedience. And she worships. This time, she prays a prayer of exultation and glorifies God.

Mommas, life can be difficult. Or should I say, life certainly IS difficult. But remember, we’re not alone. Jesus promised us that he would be with us “always to the end of the age”.