Being a mother is wonderful, but it isn’t always easy. It can be rewarding while also being a thankless job. Being a mother can be exhilarating but also exhausting. Women can surround themselves with other mothers yet still feel very lonely. Whether you’re a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, a foster mom or a mom of a child with special needs, there’s one thing all moms have in common...we all need Jesus!
Below are the beginnings of prayers to help guide you in talking to God about your own “Mother Load.” If you read them all, you’ll notice that the prayers are very similar. Let that be a reminder that while motherhood looks different for each of us, we all have the same weaknesses and the same needs. May this also remind us not to judge one another, but rather encourage and uplift one another through this journey called motherhood.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Jordan Whitt ©For the tired mom
Father God,
I need You. I’m so tired and the work never ends. The days seem to drag on and very little gets done. Please remind me that playing with my children is more important than keeping the house spotless. Remind me that the laundry will always be there, but my children are only little once. Please give me the heart of a servant and keep me from being annoyed when the day doesn’t go as I planned. Give me rest, Father. Give me energy. Give me patience. Give me a heart of gratitude.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
For the angry mom
Father God,
I need You. I need help controlling my tongue and not sinning in my anger. Search my heart, oh God, and show me the root of my anger. Take it from me and spare my children from being the victims of my harsh words and aggressive behavior. Please give me a servant’s heart. Allow me to find joy in caring for my family. Forgive me for resenting my children when they inconvenience me. Remind me to put their needs before my own. Make me aware of my selfishness and my sin. I want to show Christ to my children through my love for them, but feel I am failing miserably. Please help me.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
For the working mom
Father God,
I need You. I’m tired when I arrive at work and I’m even more tired by the time I get home, but my day is far from over. I feel like I work two full time jobs and I’m exhausted. Please give me the energy I need to be efficient in my workplace and in my home. Give me the heart of a servant towards my family. Please allow me to rest well at night so that I can get through my day with joy and gladness. Help me to make the most of my evenings and weekends with my children even though I often want to be alone and rest. Help me to prioritize my time with You so that my heart will be in the right place. Give me strength, Lord, when I am weak. Remind me that my worth is found in You, not in my work or in my children.
Photo credit: Thinkstock/Gpointstudio
For the stay-at-home mom
Father God,
I need You. I love being home with my children, but some days I feel so cut off from the world. Sometimes I feel like my gifts are being wasted and I dream of bigger things. But, Lord, remind me that the work of a mother is so important. Remind me that while the days seem long, the years are short. Help me to enjoy this season of life. Give me a servant's heart and remind me that my worth is found in You, not in the dreams I put aside to stay home with my children. Help me to prioritize my time so that I am in Your Word daily and that I would take advantage of teachable moments to point my children to You.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
For the mom of teens
Father God,
I need You. I thought life would slow down as my children got older, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Help me to enjoy every minute of this stage, as my children will soon be out on their own. Prepare me for the changes ahead as they leave the nest. Please help me to trust You with their futures and to not be anxious. Please give me the energy I need to keep up this pace. Give me wisdom as I continue to point my teens to You and show them how to apply Your Word to their lives. Remind me that my worth is found in You, not in my children. Allow me to be grateful for this season of life and not resentful as our schedules seem like a whirlwind. Help us to stay connected as a family amidst all the distractions.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
For the foster mom
Father God,
I need You. I’m so thankful you saw fit to place these children in my care, but I feel so inadequate to meet their needs. Lord, give me patience when I’m faced with emotional outbursts. Give me a soft heart when they take their anger out on me. I need physical energy and emotional strength. Please give me a servant's heart and a genuine love for these children. Help me to stay connected with my husband when I’m exhausted at the end of the day. Help me to prioritize my time so that I am still in fellowship with other believers. Remind me, Lord, that I am serving You as I serve these children.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
For the single mom
Father God,
I need You. I feel torn in so many directions and all I want is to be the best mother I can be. It wasn’t my plan to be doing this alone. Remind me, Lord, that You are with me. Help me to rely on You and to trust in Your provision. Please give me energy by day and rest by night. Please give me wisdom as I show my children that You are the perfect Father and that You will always be with us. Give me patience when I’m tired. Give me the heart of a servant. Keep me from being envious of friends who have a partner to share this load with. Help me to lean on You when I am weak.
Photo credit: Thinkstock/Liderina
For the mom with special needs children
Father God,
I need You. I am so thankful for my children. I am also so, so tired. This is a road I never expected to be on and some days I feel so overwhelmed I can hardly breathe. Please, Lord, give me strength to get through the day. Help me not to be selfish but to be a joyful caregiver. Take away the anxieties I have about the future and help me to rest in You. Help me, Lord, not to take it personally when our family is left out. Remind me that not everyone knows how to interact with our family. Help me to love those who avoid us and to not feel anger toward them. Help me, Lord, to have a joyful heart and to be content in my circumstances. Help me to lean on You when I am weak.
Photo credit: Thinkstock/Halfpoint
For all moms
Father God,
We need You. Thank you for giving us the privilege of being called mothers. Remind us that we, as mothers, are not in competition. Remind us that we need to be working together, encouraging one another, and lifting one another up in prayer. Remind us, Lord, that our children are sinners in need of a Savior and that our first responsibility is to see them as disciples. Give us wisdom as we teach them and point them to you. Let us start each day with joy and gladness. Keep us from anxiety and from being overwhelmed. Give us servant hearts and the humility to lean on You when we’re weak.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Beth Ann Baus is a wife and homeschooling mom of two boys. She is a freelance writer and author of the novel, Sister Sunday. In her writing, Beth often pulls from her own experiences of abuse, anxiety, depression and OCD. Beth has a heart for women’s ministry and is in the process of becoming a certified Biblical Counselor. She loves serving alongside her husband and pointing couples to the Word for strengthening their marriages and home life. You can find more from her at www.bethannbaus.com.