When you feel invisible, God sees you. Mama.

I’ve been there.

Sometimes it feels like we do the same thing day in and day out and wonder, does any of it actually matter?

Do I matter?
With endless laundry, dishes piled in the sink, if they’ve even made it that far, diapers to change, babies to feed and bottoms to wipe – is this really all there is?

Take heart, sweet Mama. Even when you feel invisible, you are fully known and seen by God.
You are never alone.

Whether you are a new mom in the trenches of cluster feedings and teething sleep regressions, or a seasoned Mama who is now up late waiting to see that your teenager who is babysitting for a friend in your neighborhood makes it home safely, the days and the nights can be long.

As a mama who has been through every stage from pregnancy and newborns all the way to the teenage years, I can tell you that the days are long and the years are short.

Cliché?

Maybe. But definitely true.

I have been a Mama for almost 18 years now. My oldest is 17 and applying to colleges, taking the SAT, looking for an internship… and this kid doesn’t even drive yet! That’s next on the list!

Our youngest is four. Even though we have had 5 four year-olds before her, this time is different.

She’s the only four year old we’ve had who doesn’t have a younger sibling. Or two.

She’s our only preschooler to go to “school” 2 days a week at our church’s mother’s day out program because someone gifted her a scholarship. Those are her favorite days of the week. Her whole week is shaped by “how many days until a school day?”.

Just these two end-cap kids keep us busy with drop offs and pick-ups 4 days a week. That 17-yr old who doesn’t drive? She takes dual credit classes at our local community college, twice a week. And of course, those days are the opposite days that the 4-yr old goes to school. Because that would be too easy.

And our 14 year old is a volunteer at the zoo downtown.

It’s a lot.
And we haven’t even discussed the middle three.

But is it worth it? Absolutely.

I can still get caught up in feeling like its just endless monotony with no purpose. But I can promise you that is a lie straight from the enemy.

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” 1Cor 10:31.

“Do not grow weary of doing good, for in the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.” Galatians 6:9.

If you are in the trenches, whatever the ages or stages of your kids, remember, you are deeply and dearly loved by El Roi, the God Who Sees Me.

He always sees. And he is there to offer you comfort and peace on the long nights and long days when you feel you just can’t do it alone.

And that’s accurate. We absolutely cannot do it alone.

It’s too much.

I truly believe, from my experience, there is little in life that teaches us we need Him, every day we need Him, quite like the experience of motherhood!

You know that popular, “Christian” saying that says God won’t give you more than you can handle? That’s not Biblical. And that has definitely not been my experience in life.

The Lord has indeed given me more than I could handle – several times – in my life. Which is precisely when we turn to Him for help. That is by design.

If He never gave us more than we could handle, we would have no need to run to Him.

I know that in my life it has been some of the hardest times when I have felt the closest to the Lord.

Because I sought Him in those times.
I had no other choice.

There was no option where I could pull myself by my bootstraps – I didn’t even have bootstraps.

And he got me through it. Every time. Would I rather have skipped those excruciatingly hard times if He had given me the option? Honestly, yes.

But I can also honestly say that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having walked through those fires.

Motherhood as Sanctification.

Fire is refining.

When life feels easy, we might start thinking, “I’ve got this!” It’s also easy to just get “busy” and be coasting along, without intention.
That’s a dangerous place to be! I’ve certainly been there, too. More times than I would like to admit, in fact. Of course, we need a reprieve from all the fire! In His grace, He gives that, too.

Motherhood is sanctifying. There is no other vocation that asks so much of us.

But it also gives more blessings and rewards. The harvest is great if we are faithful.
Not perfect, of course, but faithful.

That means that those dishes do matter. The laundry. The meals cooked and shared. The ouchies kissed, the feverish snuggles And the prayers for your family in it all. It all matters. You are building into the future of your family.

So take a moment when you’re struggling. Pray that He will show you that He is there.
Take a moment, or three, to reset after a chaotic morning. The Spirit will give you the patience to read that book. Again. Even though you own 97 other books.

He sees you and He loves you. And He is there. Consider starting a journal to record the times when you feel Him. I am a verbal processor and one of the best ways I’ve found to process my thoughts, emotions, prayers, etc, is journaling.

I don’t honestly do it as much as I would like.
So this is to me as much as to you!

Find your stones.

The Lord told the Israelites to take one stone for each of the 12 Tribes when they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. They were to pile them on the banks of the river as a memorial to the Lord for what he had done.
Because He knew they were prone to forget.

How many times had they already forgotten the exodus from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea?

The provision of manna and quail.

Lest we be quick to judge the Israelites for their short memories… We are no different.

Sometimes we need to be reminded to remember. Remember what he has done.

In Hebrew, the word for remember is zakar (pronounced zah-kar), is about more than just the past.

It is a call to action, because of the past.

So, remembering what God had done for them was to move them into the future.

They set up those 12 stones so each family, each tribe, would tell the story of what God had done for them. For generations.

We should do the same.

What are the points in your life so far that could be stones to remind you of what he as done for you? I would encourage you to look for them.

Write them down. Paint them on actual stones, if you like.

Just remember them. And let them remind you to act – knowing he will always be with you in the future.

Reach out to your community when you need support. If you don’t have anyone right now, pray that the Lord will put them in your life.

And I would love to connect with you and pray for you – my hope is that this will be a community of grace and support.

You are not alone. You are not invisible. What you do is significant. To those you serve and to the Lord.

Sometimes I think about how my children will look back on their childhoods and that can be a sobering thought when I know I haven’t always viewed my mothering as my greatest ministry.

That is exactly what it is and I would do well to remember that, especially in the hard times.

The God of Creations sees you. El Roi.

Lean on Him and those He puts in your life.

You are doing better than you think.

He is still writing your story. And He’s writing their stories, too. And you’re in them.

Father,
I thank You for seeing me in all the moments – the easy and the hard. Remind me that what I do in my home and for my family matters to You, even if no one else notices. Strengthen my heart when I feel invisible, insignificant, tired and discouraged. Help me to rest in your presence and trust that you are with me, guiding me, and delighting in my faithfulness.
Lord, fill my days with your peace, your purpose and your grace. Let me reflect your love to my children in every small, unseen act.
Thank you for being the God Who Sees Me.
Amen.