Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV¹

A couple of days ago I found something I wrote for Mother’s Day a number of years ago. In it, I had likened my motherhood experience to the days of a single workweek—because that is how fast the years had seemed to fly by. On Monday, I was changing diapers, fixing bottles, and praying for a good night’s sleep. By Wednesday, I was helping sound out words, drilling multiplication facts, and attending school events. At the time of my writing, I found myself on Friday evening.

I wrote about each of my children and how they had grown over the years. I mentioned my oldest daughter’s upcoming marriage. My youngest daughter was in the thick of high school activities. And my son was about to graduate from high school and go off to college.

I ended my essay with my climbing into bed on Friday night and resting my hand on the massive shoulders of the man I had laid next to for nearly a quarter of a century. I praised God for His grace upon our family up until that point. And I mentioned that Saturday was coming. Although I knew not what it would bring, I was confident that God would lead us through the coming day in the same manner He had led us through the previous ones.

Well, now my Saturday has come. And I was right; God is still very present in our lives. I have found that on Saturday one gets to sleep a little later and linger a little longer over meals. And Saturday is the day one gets to spend with the ones he/she loves the most. But Saturday is also a day that one works a little harder and plays a little harder than any other day of the week.

My Sunday will come, and it will be a wonderful day of rest and worship. Sometime on Sunday, I will climb into bed and wake up in Heaven. But it is Saturday now and there are things I want to accomplish. I can’t think of a better way to spend my Saturday than exhorting others to make to most of whatever day in which they find themselves.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

I wish to bless people by sharing some of what I have learned during my days of sleep deprivation. I want to inspire individuals by passing on some of what I received on those days of constant giving. And I hope to encourage others by imparting something from what I gained on the days I could barely keep my head above the water.

Over the course of my week, I have discovered that there are indeed five-thousand, two-hundred, and eighty feet in a mile. As was mine, your race has been marked out for you.

“A person’s days are determined; [God has] decreed the number of his months and [has] set limits he cannot exceed” (Job 14:5).

“[God’s] eyes saw [your] unformed body; all the days ordained for [you] were written in [God’s] book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).

“From one man [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26).

Time has taught me that we all are going to have to complete every single mile that has been predetermined for us. Some of those miles we will get to fly above, some we will be allowed to drive over, and some we will be able to float upon, but the majority of those miles will have to be covered by the soles of our own feet. We do have a choice, though; we can allow ourselves to be pushed, pulled, or dragged over those miles. Or we can decide to walk, run, crawl, or swim, if necessary, the course ahead of us.

Thankfully, we won’t be evaluated by how pretty we have looked while completing our races, but we will be judged by the earnestness with which we have navigated those miles.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore … do not run like someone running aimlessly; … do not fight like a boxer beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26).

“Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Most importantly, I have learned that it is impossible to complete the races set before us on our own. We need other people but, ultimately, we need the assistance of the One who determined the course of our paths in the first place. There is no shame in asking for help. A strong person admits his/her need. And a wise one goes to the Source of All Provision for the abundant support available. I believe our prescribed paths are purposely impossible so we will come to realize our great need for the only One who is able to guide us in successfully finishing them.

“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3 ESV²).

“Let us … 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” (Hebrews 14:16).

Jesus said,

“‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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 rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

David testified,

“With [God’s] help, I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall” (Psalm 18:29).

Isaiah declared,

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

I am a mother. Maybe you are too. This Mother’s Day, you may be weary and burdened, pulling a weight that is much too heavy for you. You may be getting attacked, finding yourself losing ground and your back is against the wall. Your strength may be spent, your emotions drained, and you have nothing left to give.

Though you don’t have to be a mother to feel that way, I get it; I have been there. I sympathize but I don’t want to let you wallow in self-pity. And I am not going to direct you toward self-indulgence. It might just be that too much focus on yourself has gotten you where you are. Maybe you are being pushed, pulled, or dragged over the miles. Perhaps it is time to get up and start moving again.

I am writing to encourage you not to fall down and give up. You can do this, but you can’t do it in your own strength. Do not despair! Reach out to the Lord—the only One who can really help you.

“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:31).

“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is His name: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known’” (Jeremiah 33:2-3).

“In [your] distress, … [call] to the Lord; … [cry] to [your] God for help. From His temple, He [will hear your] voice; [your] cry [will come] before Him, into His ears” (Psalm 18:6).

Whether you are a woman or a man, a parent or a child, why not make the most of this Mother’s Day by submitting totally “to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 1:24). He who determined your race and “who began [this] good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

When you come to your week’s end, may you be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). May you be “blessed [like] … the one who perseveres … because … that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). And may you know what it means to move along your path and throughout your week in the grace of God.

Happy Mother’s Day.

 

 

¹ Scripture quotations marked with NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God. All Scriptures are taken from the NIV unless otherwise marked.

² Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.