dear momma who is trying to do it all,

I know you're exhausted. How can you not be? You want to be the best mom, wife, and daughter of the King.

Daily, you are confronted with millions of pieces of information that address precisely "how to." Blog posts, magazine articles, news reports, pinterest pins - all telling you what you should be doing, how you should be doing it, and what you and your people should look like as you do and be all the things.

the comparison trap.

There are crunchy mommas who slather their kids in oils, make every bit of food (and soap!) from scratch, and grow all their food on their homestead. There are creative mommas who paint beautiful pictures, transform furniture, and allow their children freedom of artistic expression. There are outdoorsy mommas who hike through the woods, wade in water, and explore the wonders of nature with their kids. There are fashionable mommas whose hair and makeup rival the stars, whose wardrobes are always on point, and whose kids look like Gap Kids models. There are mommas who are CEOs and CFOs, who run orphanages and nonprofits.

the lie of doing it all.

​I don't know about you, but somewhere along the way I bought the lie that I was supposed to do it all.

How terribly disappointing.

The only thing I can keep alive are weeds. I posses zero artistic ability. Bugs totally creep me out. I can't walk in heels and my hair is perpetually in a pony tail. The only jobs I've had were in coffee shops and book stores - not board rooms or high rises. And, after our most recent adoption, I took a hiatus from the nonprofit my husband and I founded.

Maybe you've struggled, feeling like you aren't equipped to handle some of the things others do with grace.

Sweet momma, I would like to humbly suggest that might be because you are striving to do things God never asked you to do.

the reality of His truth.

Here's the beautiful truth: God created each of us in His image. Uniquely gifted, individually formed, called with purpose.

I have no expectation for you, or anyone else, to do it all - but somehow, for a very long time, I was convinced that was my role. That if I couldn't do it all, I was failing.

Friend, if you've carried that expectation, I beg of you - lay it down.

God created good works for each of us to do. (Eph. 2:10) He's ordered our steps, directed our paths, and written our stories. (Psalm 37:23, Heb. 12:2) When we spend our days consumed with what other people are doing - and adding things to our plates that God never intended - we limit the time, resources, and energy that we have to do what He's asking us to do.

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living it out, intentionally.

God has asked me to focus on my family and advocating for orphans. He asked me to lay down my ideas of mission work, and see the mission field He had given me. When I became obedient to His voice in this area, it brought such grace and freedom!

Instead of trying to keep up with the crunchy-creative-outdoorsy-fashionable mommas of the world, I was able to embrace who God created me to be so I can do what He created me to do. (Which today includes writing this post from the comfort of my office space in our master bedroom, wearing leggings and an oversized cardigan, while my children giggle uncontrollably in the living room!)

My prayer for you today is that you will be able to embrace who God created you to be, enabling you to do what He created you to do. And that you would be free from the expectations and demands you've placed on yourself to be anyone other than who God created you to be. 

It's time to quit trying to do it all, acknowledge that only Jesus is enough, and live out the story God has written just for you.

You are beautiful. You are equipped. You are empowered by the Holy Spirit. You are made in the image of our perfect Heavenly Father. You were created for a purpose, and given specific gifts to bring glory to Him and hope to others. You are who you are not by chance, but by design! You are needed, valued, and dearly loved.

Sweet momma, lay down the desire to do it all and embrace the story He has written for you! I want to hear about you - your story - your passion - your calling in the comments!