You used to have motivation to do all the things, to tackle the challenges, to meet the needs, to love others well in a peaceful way. Now you feel sad, angry, grumpy, tense, or unmotivated. So, what is going on? What has changed? Why are you struggling? I’m seeing it strongly right now in the general population with the Coronavirus stay-at-home orders. Why?
Maybe the coronavirus confinement already has you exhausted and looking for help. Sarah from Hope Anew offers three tips to help you persevere when challenges are overwhelming.
When we go through dark, lonely times it’s easy for our thinking to get cloudy, to forget the things we know, and to get confused. It’s easy to start believing lies instead of truth. During my doubting, fighting-daily-for-faith years, I started a list of thoughts I struggled with and Bible verses that I could go to in order to combat those lies or struggles. Here is my list; maybe you’ll find some of these helpful.
Holidays can be a very difficult time for families with kids with special needs. Many of the traditions and family gatherings they used to enjoy, they can’t anymore. It can be an especially hard and lonely time, as the difficulties that come with special needs are magnified. Our first attempt was a sorry start to new holiday traditions. However, we persisted. Eleven years later, we have some new special Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions.
When I think back on the hardest days and years of our son’s journey, I recall wanting God’s help, expecting His help, waiting for His help, while all the time trying to solve all the problems and carry all the burdens on my own. I don’t remember asking for His help or moving to Him for His help and shelter until I completely exhausted myself and physically broke.
One of the things I love most about the message from God through my friend, it focused on Him and what He can do: “I can move mountains,” not on my lack of faith. God knew I was already so discouraged. I didn’t need to have one more area of failure pointed out. I needed to change my focus, get it off of what I can and cannot do and focus on Him and what He can do.
I couldn’t do much to change my son’s situation or stop his pain. But I could entrust him to the One who created him, who knew every one of his days before he was even conceived, who loved him so much He suffered and died for my son.
You are not just a mom! Don’t let others intimidate you into questioning what you know is working or not working for your child. Trust yourself and keep moving forward.
I had grand dreams of the ministry work we would do. The reality of life was a far cry from that, which led to a crisis of faith. In the process of questioning and wrestling with God, I got to know Him better—for Himself, as He truly is, not as I had been taught, but Him.
Grief can be all-consuming when you’re in the worst of it, or it can hit at any moment, unexpectedly. It’s okay to feel that grief. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your child with all your heart. It means that you lost something that was dear to you.
Did God know I could handle being a special-needs mom? He knew I absolutely could not handle it. That’s why He promised to be with me.