To the Mama Who Feels Like Her Dreams are on Hold in the Midst of Motherhood

A letter of encouragement to the Mama feels like her dreams are on hold in the midst of motherhood:

I see you, Mama. I see the dreams in your heart that so often take a backseat to seemingly menial tasks like wiping noses and fixing snacks.

I hear the questions you ask yourself. I know you’re wondering if those dreams God placed in your heart so long ago are ever actually going to happen or not.

I know the frustration of feeling pulled between motherhood and family responsibilities and doing something “more.”

Oh – I know you don’t want to be misunderstood.

I know you love your kids more than life itself. I know that you love motherhood.

But I also know that sometimes your kids drive you crazy, you feel like you’re failing at being the mom you want to be, and you wonder if you’re securing your place as the top discussion item when your kid is in therapy later on in life.

Motherhood is this wonderful blend of overwhelming love and delight mixed with intense uncertainty isn’t it?

I also get that sometimes you long to pursue those dreams that are just yours.

Maybe you’re already pursuing them and you wonder if it’s selfish to divide your time and attention between your family and your dreams.

I get all of that.

And I want to share something that will encourage you.

First of all – you’re not failing as a mom. It’s not selfish to have dreams. And yes, you can love your children with all your heart but also have dreams and desires of your own.

Second – don’t underestimate the power of the invisible seasons.

Invisible Seasons

Sometimes it can feel like we aren’t really accomplishing anything in the midst of routine mom life. The endless snacks… The bottomless laundry hamper… The kitchen sink that seems to create its own dirty dishes.

But what if I told you that this season, right now, is doing more inside of you than you know?

What if I told you that it’s actually developing the skills that you need in order to fulfill your God ordained mission?

On those days when it feels like nobody sees you or sees all the work you do – God does. And he’s working in these days, even when you can’t see it or feel it.

Finding Purpose in the invisible seasons of motherhood. #EncouragementforMoms

Joseph’s Invisible Season

Let’s take a look at the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-41. If you aren’t familiar with the story, I highly suggest you read it. But for now, I’ll give you a brief synopsis.

Joseph had a dream that God put in his heart. His brothers scoffed at him and were even offended by his dream. (Though, to be fair, maybe it wasn’t the wisest thing for him to share it with them).

Joseph’s brothers devise a plan to get rid of him by selling him to slave traders. He gets shipped off to Egypt, where he serves as a slave in Potiphar’s house. The Bible tells us that Joseph had favor in Potiphar’s house and Potiphar put him in charge of everything.

Then Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Joseph, and he refuses. She lies about him and says he tried to take advantage of her and has him shipped off to prison. Can you imagine the frustration? He did the right thing and ended up in prison because of it.

Sometimes you can do all the right things and still not get the “right” results.

The Bible says that Joseph had favor in prison and he was put in charge of all the other prisoners.

So he’s now been in two positions of leadership and authority that he would not have been in if he had not been sold into slavery. I’m willing to bet that he learned a lot about managing people and being in leadership in each of those position.

It doesn’t tell us how long he was in prison before he has a divine meeting with a cupbearer and baker. He interprets dreams for each of them, and begs the cupbearer to remember him once he’s serving Pharaoh again.

The cupbearer forgets about Joseph for TWO YEARS. In fact, he forgets all about Joseph until one night Pharaoh has some troubling dreams and the cupbearer remembers that he once encountered someone who could interpret dreams.

Joseph not only interprets pharaoh’s dreams, but also lays out a plan for the economic stabilization of an entire nation through a famine. Joseph gets put second in command over ALL OF EGYPT.

You NEED to hear this…

If Joseph had never been in prison, he wouldn’t have been in the right place at the right time to have the divine appointment that eventually landed him in the palace.

If Joseph had never had the opportunities to hone his leadership skills in prison and in Potiphar’s house, he probably wouldn’t have had the skills he needed in order to rule an entire nation.

A lot happened in his invisible season.

I HAVE to think that Joseph struggled with anger, discouragement, and disillusionment during that time. But we know that he worked through it because when he encounters his brothers that betrayed him later on in the story, he’s not angry with them. In fact, he forgives them. And the awful thing that they did to him by selling him into slavery was actually the act that set the events in motion to save their family and entire region from famine.

Okay, so back to you…

Mama, do you feel like your dreams are on hold in the midst of motherhood? Do you feel invisible? Do you feel unseen? My friend, don’t discount the value of the things that happen in the invisible and unseen seasons.

But here’s the thing – don’t coast. It can be hard to persevere when you’re battling discouragement. The value of this season depends on you working through that discouragement, trusting God that he is at work even when you don’t see it, and letting him teach you and mold you during this time. When you feel discouraged, give your discouragement and your frustration to Him. And then ask him to open your eyes to what He wants to show you in this season.

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