Shhhhh. I won’t take much of your time. I know you’re busy. I know you’re tired. And I know that more than anything you wish you were sleeping and your little one (or not so little one anymore) was sleeping too. I thought I might keep you company for a second.
I know how lonely the night can be.
I know when your little one needs you in the night, it feels like the weight of the world rests alone on your shoulders – As if everything is up to you. There’s no one to call. There’s no one else awake. There’s just you and your baby… And Jesus.
I don’t know if you’re awake tonight because you have a brand new baby who is still adjusting to his brand new world… Or who is eating every forty-five minutes.
I don’t know if it’s teething, or an earache, or if it’s teething that’s causing the earache.
I don’t know if it is sickness, or heartache, or worry that is keeping you awake.
But I know this… I’ve been there.
I’ve been the momma who nurses hour after hour to soothe a baby suffering from reflux. I have been the mom terrified of the scary-high reading on the thermometer… Wondering how high is too high and reminding herself that they said not to worry… but I just can’t help it.
I have held the trash cans, and stripped the sheets, and walked sleep walking babies back to their beds. I have laid awake at night worrying that I blew it earlier in the day. I have craved sleep all day only to place my head on my pillow while guilt fills my soul. And I have prayed and prayed to be a better mommy as I plead with the Lord for a good night of sleep too.
I’ve been the momma rocking hour after hour until the morning provides relief… at least I’m not alone anymore.
I don’t know what is keeping you awake tonight, friend. But I just want to take a second to say that we’re never quite as alone as we feel.
Not only are there women across this globe doing the same things you are in this very minute, and not only have I been right with you many nights myself, Jesus is with you even now.
Do you feel Him? Let’s tune our hearts to His voice for a second. His presence feels like the love you pour out endlessly for your own baby. His Love feels like peace. And in the middle of all the really hard and exhausting moments, Jesus promises not to leave us. So that means in this exact moment, He hears your heart, and He is speaking words of love over you and over your baby.
Deep breath, sister. Okay, here’s the thing. I can’t put your little one back to sleep, and if you’re reading this in the morning after an exhausting night, I can’t give you the rest you crave either.
But what I can do is remind you that this night… These long exhausting nights… This whole season of life…will not last forever.
I know the night can feel endless… But the sun is just over the horizon. It’s light breaking through the fear. It’s the dawning of Hope in the promise that tomorrow is coming and Jesus will meet us there too.
You’re doing a great job.
Rest when you can, pray when you can’t, and never doubt God’s presence in your life… (even in the middle of the night.)
What about you? Why are you awake tonight?
Hope Unfolding is everything I have ever wanted to tell a momma and probably everything you ever needed to hear. Click the image for more details.
