I was herding the kids home from our hour-long bike ride around the neighborhood, trying to wear out the last bits of their energy before bedtime. Our only time together as a family since I’d been at work all day and they’d been in day care. She was driving home from her daughter’s playdate and stopped to visit. “I don’t know how you do it,” she said. In that moment, I guess my crazy life as a working mom seemed like too much, something she couldn’t imagine bearing. I looked back at her and repeated the same sentiment, not able to imagine being a stay-at-home mom of triplets!
How many times have you thought this about someone else’s life? I don’t know how you {fill in the blank}… How you mother a special needs child? How you care for a infirm, aging parent? How you travel for work every week and only see your family on the weekends? How you keep a smile on your face even as you suffer daily physical pain? How you carry the load when you’re asked to do the work of two people, to step way beyond your comfort zone?
Some days the truth is we don’t feel like we can do it. Some days the walls begin to close in around us and we feel trapped, enslaved to this life we’ve been given. Some days we feel like we just can’t carry on. Some days we just want more, just want something different, just want to break free of this set of trials and do more with our lives.
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That evening I shrugged and replied, “you just do it.” That’s the reality of this life. We all have trials and burdens, circumstances that challenge us. The loads we’re asked to carry aren’t always easy, not always what we want for our lives, but they are ours. And we learn to live into them. We put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
So, how do we “just do it” better? How can we have more joy in our lives, despite the challenges we may face?
1) Pray and lean into God.
Trust that God will provide what we need, even when we don’t feel capable.
[guestpost]“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.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV) [/guestpost]
2) Look for the blessings and beauty around you and treasure those in your heart.
There will be triumphs mixed in with the trials; you just have to look for them. Celebrate those and let them carry you through the tough times that may follow.
[guestpost]I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)[/guestpost]
3) Know that you are uniquely gifted to carry your own burdens.
We aren’t called to someone else’s life, only our own. You are capable of living your life, challenges and all! You can bear all things, with God’s help!
[guestpost]I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation – when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do. Philippians 4:11-13 (ERV)[/guestpost]
Oh, to be more like Paul! To unlock that secret of living with joy through any situation, fully trusting in Christ to give us the strength to carry on!
So, let’s stop the comparisons, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and the burdens we’re asked to bear. You can do this! You just do. It’s your life, your child, your parent, your career. Your opportunity to live the life God’s given you and make the most positive impact on this world as you can!
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Sharing with: Testimony Tuesday, UNITE, Wednesday Prayer Girls, Coffee for your Heart, #TellHisStory, Thought Provoking Thursday
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Holly Barrett says
What great encouragement for all us when we have those days of wondering how any of it is going to get done! Love that you started with praying and leaning into God. Without Him, nothing is possible. Thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday!
joanneviola says
Wonderful thoughts which encourage us all, no matter which stage of life we may find ourselves. God gives the needed strength for each day. He is sufficient for the day. Grateful to have stopped here from Unite! Blessings!
[email protected] says
Love, love that sweet image right up top. Her sweet little face is the perfect start to my day. Thanks for sharing beauty and some very profound truths here, Kathryn.
;-}
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
Yup! I’m so grateful He strengthens us every day! So often I feel like I just don’t have it in me to face my day at work, and then I ask Him for help and He’s always so gracious to strengthen me – both in body and in spirit! I loved your post and stopped here from JuanaMikels.com. Have a great day!
Maggie says
Sometimes I get caught up it how am I going to get through today? But you are so right, you just do it but when I start the day with God it all goes so much better than I had anticipated when I crawled out of bed. Thanks for sharing.
sarahgirl3 says
Philippians 4 has such great verses. I would love to be content like Paul!
Heather says
“uniquely gifted to carry our own burdens…” I’m pretty sure that walking in the shoes of anyone else I would completely drown. Very nice post.
I have run onto your blog through a couple different link-ups and I appreciate your comments on a couple of my posts. I wanted to invite you to think about taking part in another link-up. It’s a little bit different and doesn’t start really until the 20th of this month. You can find the details here, //theeangelproject.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/i-have-an-idea/
Blessings on your weekend!