Via Death to the Stock Photo

This week I read a post by a mom who feels like she is drowning in the responsibility of motherhood. As I read each word, I was nodding. It resonated. No matter how much I work against burnout or practice the habit of gratitude, there are always days where I feel as if I am drowning, too.

In this post she expressed her fear: she believed because she was balancing so many responsibilities—work, school activities, housework—she was ruining her family. Extreme as it might sound, haven’t we all felt that way a time or two? If I am being perfectly honest, I feel that a few minutes of most days. I lose my temper, forget an important appointment, or prioritize work over family, and then I find myself believing I am not cut out for this job.

Motherhood is uniquely difficult because each and every day you are confronted with overwhelming need. From the second the first set of toddler toes hits the floor in the morning, we are responsible for their livelihood, for their souls, for their health. Meanwhile, there are a hundred other things we are responsible for. There is a home to keep clean, friendships to maintain, and many of us hold a job inside or outside of the home as well. At the end of the day we must stop doing and collapse into bed, knowing we left things undone.

It is exhausting. And it is impossible.

This job that we do each day is impossible. No amount of perfect planning could make that less true. So, how, then how do we keep from drowning? Do we give up and let the waves of responsibility overtake us before we even have a chance to finish our morning cup of coffee?

That is an option, for sure. But there is another option, I think. I believe the only way we keep from drowning is holding on to something that doesn’t sink.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

Psalm 18:16-19

Daily, this verse saves me from throwing my hands in the air and giving in to deep waters or responsibility and disappointment. Today and this week, I am moving forward with my life hanging onto an unsinkable God who gives me strength and who loves me. Join me?