My maternity leave is coming to an end. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells… around myself. I know a wave of emotions is coming for me, but I can’t tell when or where.
Yesterday, Hannah and I met my sweet friend, Erin, for lunch. Someday Hannah will need to know how to be a lady who lunches. Anyway, in the course of conversation, Erin referred to this verse from Isaiah (40:11):
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
I wasn’t familiar with it, but I wanted to be. I later looked it up and locked in on that final phrase: “he gently leads those that have young.”
This is a clear encouragement for mothers if we’ll only take it. I certainly needed to hear it. My two takeaways:
1. He is gentle.
How many people in your life would you say are GENTLE with you? Your heart? Your spirit? We are living in harsh times. Oh, we are mostly comfortable, but we are not kind to one another. Words are thrown around like knives. Judgments and snark are everywhere you turn—veritable land mines for the mom doing her best to navigate it all. But the Lord is not like this.
“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
Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. He offers rest and “lightness” in exchange for our heavy burdens. Um, what’s not to love here? In 2018, gentle is refreshing. Gentle is life-giving. It’s like a cold cup of water on a hot day.
Have you ever known someone who treated you with great intention and care? We naturally want to be around people who show us that degree of mindful attention, that level of respect. It’s no wonder gentleness is a fruit—or by-product—of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Being a mom is tough, so I cling to the assurance of Jesus’ tenderness. His radical kindness is more refreshing and counter-culture than ever. His love is my confidence.
2. He leads those that have young.
He made me a mother, and He wants to lead me on this journey… if I’ll let Him. We’re not alone in navigating how to raise these little people entrusted to us. God is there to guide you in how you speak, how you discipline, how you prioritize, how you get through the day without losing it. We have to remember Him as an ally in our corner and actively call upon His strength and wisdom in prayer. I know this is hard. Trust me, I fail at following on a nearly minute-by-minute basis. Human nature says, “I’ve got this!” “I’ll lead this family, thank you very much.”
God is wiser than the most popular mommy blogger or parenting book. He offers more support and peace than the closest girlfriend or a glass of wine at the end of a long day. He gave me these children—gifts on loan, and He didn’t give them to me to be left out of the equation.
Mothering is too big of a responsibility to waive this offer of divine leadership. He is our power source.
When I scrolled down further in Isaiah 40, I found this nugget:
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)
What if we took this not just as a feel-good quote that offered a few seconds of comfort, but as a true FACT and an applicable PROMISE? What if we leaned into it, counted on it and called upon it?
“Weary” is a word I’m familiar with, after birthing and nurturing a newborn these last three months. Going back to work next week, it’s extremely likely that I will feel both “weary” and “weak” even more often in the coming months. Change is hard. Stakes are high. “Balance” is as elusive as sleep. Guilt is lurking everywhere, and its accusations are never gentle.
So I’m acknowledging it here and (especially) now: God, I need you! Day by day, when I’m down and out, when Luke is disobeying and Hannah is fussing, when deadlines are looming, when I’m feeling less-than, and when it’s so tempting to just rely on myself and caffeine.
Lord, help me seek and savor your gentle love in this season.
Help me remember and run to your leadership as I mother these precious ones.
Sarah Weller 
You are so poetic in your words, Sarah! I pray for your family in the coming weeks as you all adjust to your “new normal” with Jesus by your side. I pray we all remember that when times are tough, He is always there to hold our hand and guide us through life. Those verses bring peace to my heart! Thank you, Friend!