Help Is On The Way

Lately I feel like my kids have been testing me from the inside out- pushing boundaries, testing physical & emotional limitations.  It’s all part of healthy growing and learning- but man- it’s been exhausting!

Honestly, I’ve felt stretched and over my limitations quite a bit lately.  Often times I’m wondering whether what I’m doing is helping or hurting.  Sometimes I just feel so helpless.  Parenting has been such a crazy ride!

I’ve felt disappointed in myself.  My inside voice has been loudly telling me that I’m messing things up.  I’ve been short tempered, irritable and tired- and although it is partially because I’m pregnant- I realize that those feelings still need to be addressed and not just excused.

Balancing a tight rope of disciplining my 3 year old and 18 month old constantly while managing my 3^rd child in pregnancy has proved to be a challenge.  My plate is full.   And with visitors the entire month of August things have been feeling a little more hectic inside my head.

Psalms- 2 days ago I picked up the bible that’s always in the bathroom and started reading the psalms again.  I started from the beginning.  I read them out loud as prayers- 5 at a time.  It always startles me how very human they are.  How raw.  How real.  It’s like having a drink of water.  I left the bathroom feeling refreshed- no pun intended- well maybe a little.

This morning I read Psalm 6 through Psalm 10 (I managed to miss reading yesterday somehow).  But there were a few lines that really spoke to me.

I love it when something I’ve read 4 or 5 times before suddenly looks different:

Psalm 6:8-9 (NIV)

… the Lord has heard my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.

That simple.  And I believe it.  All of my cries for mercy, for grace, for patience, for more love- they’re all heard.  What a relief- I’m not alone- help is on the way.