For the Weary Homemaker

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“Well, I’m tired and so weary, but I must go along till the Lord comes and calls me away. Where the morning’s so bright, and the Lamb is the light, and the night, night is as fair as the day.” -Peace in the Valley

For those of you who are weary, and tired; for those of you who want to make a difference in your homes and to your families as a homemaker, but don’t know how to get it all done, this post is for you. 

There are many days where I sit in bed as the rooster crows, the donkey breys and the dog barks, and I wish so terribly that I could have my house could clean itself. I wish for just five more minutes of silence before the animals need tending to, but let me tell you: it hasn’t happened yet (nor do I think it ever will.)

It is not uncommon as homemakers to become worn out and weary. We work hard to keep our families and homes safe, clean, and happy and because of that (and because we’re human) we find ourselves growing weary. And you know what, that’s okay. When God designed us He knew that we could not run like machines 24/7 and that once in a while we would need rest. I mean, even the Lord, creator of all of the universe rested on the seventh day!

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. -Genesis 2:2

 

Here’s the truth: It’s okay to be weary

In most of us, being weary and worn out in today’s world brings us a lot of guilt. Knowing that we can’t keep up with the demands of our home 24/7 sometimes leaves us feeling inadequate as a homemaker.

Matthew 11:28 says,

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

God does not want you to burn yourself out running Bobby and Billy to baseball practice while Suzy and Sally have to run to ballet and horseback riding leaving you and a screaming toddler to make dinner. He wants you to be able to pleasantly manage your children while still leaving room for cleaning, having fellowship, cooking, and most importantly for time with Him.

So how can you accomplish that?

 

De-Clutter Your Life

De-cluttering your schedule will give you more time with your family; and that is most important. Organizing and de-cluttering your home will give you less to put away each day, giving your more energy to do the things that are important in your life. When you simplify your entire life, you’re giving yourself the gift of time and energy.

My favorite gals for de-cluttering and organizing are:

• The Minimal Mom – I have only been following her for a few weeks but since then have purged my biggest problem areas and now I find my home to be a much less stressful place, and a place of rest for me.
• Kathryn from Do It on a Dime – Kathryn has some seriously awesome, cute and unique organizational ideas that will keep your home from feeling crazy!

What time God has given you in this world is precious, don’t be quick to waste it on things that are not for His glory!!

Spend More Time in the Word

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
– Matthew 6:6

The Lord desires and craves our attention as a father does with His child. He wants us to know Him and grow with Him. He is our source of life. He will renew us in His living water and make us whole and new again. Without Him, we would be like a dry and barren land.

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” -John 4:14

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” -Isaiah 44:3

“And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” -Revelation 21:6

It’s really important to have a good Bible translation. Whether it’s in your hand or on your phone, it’s something that I’ve found has made a world of a difference when trying to dive into God’s word. I, personally, use the Christian Standard Bible which is a version that uses a translation philosophy called “optimal equivalence”, which has been a huge help in understanding God’s word for me.

Find Encouragement

Keeping encouraged as a homemaker is so important in today’s day and age because this world is so against the ministry that we do in the name of the Lord. Titus 2:3-5 tells us that older women should want to encourage and teach the younger women in the church to do the will of the Lord.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Since us like-minded women are spread out all over the world, the best way (I find) to get encouragement as a homemaker are at the following blogs:

• The Focused Homemaker
• Raising Homemakers
• The Thankful Homemaker

Surround Yourself In His Word

From magazines, to TV shows to books and to music, we need to be conscious of what we’re letting in our home. It is our job to keep the word of God as the number one priority in our homes for our husbands and our children.

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” -Acts 20:28

I am always encouraged when I head over to the (in)courage for women site, and get to read the posts and devotionals from those women. It always feels like talking to a friend that I’ve known all along.

One song that has really encouraged me on my most weary of days is “Peace in the Valley” by Randy Travis. I hope you’ll like it as much as I do.

Take Time to Rest

Know that you are not superwoman and you cannot do it all. When you get a chance, take a nap, or sit while doing a chore that allows it. Play on the floor with your little ones for a few minutes in between chores, and smile and remind yourself that you’re doing this for the glory of God.

So when it comes down to it, and you are feeling weary. Lean upon Him, and let Him be your rock.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
-Galatians 6:9