The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:34-38 (NIV)

I was reading through the story of Christ’s birth tonight, and I stopped immediately after reading this part of the text. I reread it. And again a third time.

To give a little background on what is happening here – Mary has just been told that she will carry the Christ child. She will birth the Son of God. And so she sincerely questions, “How?!” And the angel, doesn’t simply say… “Because He’s God. That’s how.”

He tells her of the miracle that is happening in Elizabeth’s womb. He reminds her that Elizabeth is pregnant after years and years of being unable to conceive. He points to Elizabeth and says, “For no word from God will every fail.” And Mary understands if God can do that for Elizabeth, then what can’t He do in her own life. There’s so much more we can talk about in those few verses. But can we just stop there for a minute?

I know there must be times when you have believed God for a miracle. I know that there must be moments where you wonder “How?” But, friend, if God is saying anything to our hearts tonight, let it be, “No word from God will ever fail.” Look around, sweet friend. Find one person in your life that has experienced the Lord coming through for them, and say to yourself, “If He can do that for them…. then what will He do for me?!”

And then may we reply in boldness like Mary, “May your Word to me be fulfilled.”

It’s a season of miracles, friend! Reach out and grab yours.

You wake up startled. You find your bearings. It’s dark. It’s night. Your little one needs you. What time is it? How long have you been asleep? Were you even asleep? It felt like your eyes didn’t even have a chance to close. You make your way to your little one and scoop them up into your arms. A bottle, a drink, a potty break, a check of the thermometer, a hug, some medicine, some snuggles… Whatever is needed… you provide. Because they needed you. Because they asked for you. Because you’re Momma.

Jesus loves you just like that, friend. Just like that. He hears our voice. He inclines his ear. He listens for you to call to Him, and so call. Don’t wait. Don’t worry about bothering Him. You aren’t. He listens for you, because He’s a good Daddy… and He always comes when you call.

I had an entire devotional prepared for tonight. But I deleted it, because tonight, I hear God saying this.

“Give me your guilt. Give me your shame. Give me your feelings of failure. Give me your burdens. Give me your fears. Give me your sickness. Give me your disease. Give me your sorrow. Give me your secrets. Give me your tired overwhelmed heart. Give me your children. Give me your marriage. Give me your family, your friends and your future. And in exchange I will give you,
Freedom. Peace. Comfort. Strength. Rest. Health. Joy. Hope. Promise. Power. I will give you all that I AM.”

Whatever you need tonight, friend? He’s got it. Whatever you are desperate for? He is the answer.

It is as simple as whispering His name, “Jesus.” And watching as He walks into the room.

My son is nearly sixteen months old, and I still enjoy rocking him to sleep. He often squirms trying to get out of my lap so that he can go to the living room for a few extra minutes. Sometimes, he wins. I let him down, he runs away, and I have to go get him. But after a few moments of being silly (or just too plain tired to wrestle him) eventually he gives in and lets me rock him to sleep.

Tonight, as we were rocking, he reached up and started to touch my face. To be honest, some nights he touches kindly and some nights, he slaps me. He’s still learning boundaries and how to listen and obey and be gentle, but tonight was different.

He reached up and touched my mouth, and then softly ran his hand against my cheeks. He reached up higher and began to trace the lines of my eyes and down my nose. He was gentle. He was purposeful. He was sweet.

And so I turned my face toward him a little more, and I leaned in close. I let him walk his fingers across my face, getting to know me, finding comfort in my presence, all while telling me he loves me with his touch, and while I remind him he is loved by my gaze.

Friend? Jesus does the same thing with us. He doesn’t turn away from us. As we reach up to touch Him, He leans in closer. He wants us to encounter Him. He wants us to seek His face. He wants us to know Him, and He wants us to find our safety and peace as we trust that we hold His gaze.

You’re so loved, friend. He sees you in this moment. Let’s pray.

Lord, tonight we need to be reminded that you see us. Tonight we need to know that you want to be near us. Tune our hearts to the Holy Spirit as You share Your Love with us. Help us hear Your voice. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Well, it is 11:55. The babies are asleep, and the day is over. I am finally “off-duty” for a minute.

All of the day’s “I’ll think about that laters” are bubbling to the surface of my mind like I just dropped Alka-Seltzer into a cup of sprite.

My mind gets ahead of my heart sometimes. It runs full force away from every truth that says, “Peace. We can handle together. Whatever could be wrong… Rest. I have them and I have you. Deep breath, please. I am still God.”

Sometimes we forget that God never put our “problems” on the back burner. Just because we were running and going all day and didn’t have time to worry… Doesn’t mean He wasn’t taking care of everything for us. He has been on the throne all day and we haven’t somehow directed Him to sit there because we need Him to take care of a few things for us now.

Can I get an amen?

He was still God when I was washing dishes and tying shoes and running errands and He was managing just fine before I finished my work for the day and gave Him my “list” of things I need Him to take care of for me. So, let’s leave our worries there with Him. Let’s not take them back and divide them so we each have an equal number of burdens to carry. Let’s just leave them with the only One who has been able to handle all of our concerns all day. Let’s just trust the Lord with it all.

So, to all of my late-night friends… no matter what you are doing… if you find yourself worried about things that will never happen, or have to happen, or might not ever happen… I pray that the peace of Almighty God would invade your heart. I pray that you would gladly place the cares of the day in the arms of the only One strong enough to carry them. I pray that you would find rest in knowing that God is on the throne and will still be there tomorrow when you wake-up. In Jesus’s name we pray together. Amen.

Tonight, as I was praying, I heard the Lord speak this verse over my heart. He kept speaking. He kept reaffirming words within me that I needed to hear. And if I needed to hear them, I bet you do too. Here is what Jesus says to us weary mommas.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… Not the rest that you think you need. Not the night of good sleep. Not the vacation you’d love to have, or the quiet weekend getaway you’re dreaming of. Rest like a shelter in the middle of the storm. Rest like a Father’s chest in the middle of the chaos. Rest like a place for your peace to land and find a safe place to nest. Rest that is unexpected. Rest that sustains. Rest that doesn’t make sense at all… because it is a moment within a moment where you and I meet face to face. Come to Me. Come to Me. Come to Me. And find My rest for your soul.”

Momma, He sees us. He knows that more than anything, we need have a safe place where our hearts can retreat and where we can let go of the burdens we carry. In the middle of the night. In the middle of the day. He’s waiting for us, friend. He is the rest that we need.

Lord, thanks for meeting us right where we are. Thanks for the shelter of Your love. Meet each need of each person reading tonight. Send Your Holy Spirit, Lord. You’re good, Father. We love You. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

I have read the Bible through and through multiple times. This isn’t the first time I’ve read about Adam and Eve… but have you ever wondered… if she was named Woman by Adam.. when did her name change to Eve?

Woman is called Eve for the first time in Genesis 3:20, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”

Just for reference, this name change took place just after they ate the fruit and sinned for the first time. It is when Eve’s future changed completely.

You know, often the same is true for each of us. When we become Mommy our identity changes. What we are called changes. It feels like everything changes.

Do you know what I mean? Have you ever felt like you hear “Momma” more than you hear your first name?

The transition to Momma is sudden. One minute you are childless and the next you are completely responsible for another human for the rest of your life. But friend, if you’re feeling a little disoriented… if you’re struggling to remember how to be you (even if it’s been years since you first became Momma) let’s just pray together tonight. Let’s just ask the Lord to reaffirm within us that our identity is first found in Him.

Because He never changes. He is never unsure of who we are or who He is calling us to be. And He would love to take your hand and remind you that first you are His creation before you were anything else.

Lord, meet each of us tonight right where we are… with exactly what we need. You are good, and we love You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.