Free shipping on all orders over $75🎄

I’m not a good enough wife.

I get moody and clingy. I struggle with the house. I get resentful of his free time, even his needs. I don’t pray for him enough. I buy him gifts because his own gift to me reminded me. I forget things he’s told me, even after he’s told me multiple times. I get distracted. I get complacent. I take him for granted. I bottle things up until my emotions explode. I get stressed and take it out on him. I get fearful and timid. I talk and don’t listen. My heart doesn’t always remain as open as it should.

I’m not a good enough wifeon my own.

On my own, I’m flawed. I’m riddled with mistakes and insecurities. I’m overflowing with worries and negative thought spirals. I’m tight-gripped and losing strength.

But with Jesus, I’m more than enough.

I’m wonderfully madethe perfect amount. (Psalm 139:13-14, 2 Corinthians 9:8)

RELATED: God Doesn’t Ask Me To Be a Perfect Mom; He Asks Me To Point My Kids to a Perfect Savior

I’m clad in armor, ready to extinguish every flaming doubt and faulty fear. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

I’m given a strength that lifts me up and keeps me safe, keeps me brave. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

I’m given a new heart, one that is ready to give and receive love.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

I’m held together by a God who redeems my soul and fights for my marriage.

I’m threaded into a story of grace. I’m humbled and exalted. I’m repentant and forgiven. I’m given a new chance, each and every day.

I’m not a good enough mother.

I get exhausted and defeated. I struggle with the toys and mess. I get resentful of their playtime, even their needs. I don’t pray for them enough. I buy them gifts to help them feel loved when there are so many better ways to show that love. I forget things they tell me, even things they’ve asked for multiple times. I get distracted. I get complacent. I take my son and daughter for granted. I bottle things up and let my emotions explode and escalate their own tantrums. I get stressed and take it out on my toddlers. I get fearful and frozen. I tell them what to do and forget to listen to their hearts. My arms don’t always remain as open as they should.

I’m not a good enough motheron my own.

On my own, I’m human. I’m riddled with fears and shame. I’m overflowing with guilt and obsessive-compulsive thought spirals. I’m clenching fists and losing sight of what’s important. But with Jesus, I’m more than enough.

I’m prepared and equipped. (Ephesians 2:10, Romans 15:4-8)

I’m upheld with a light to shine a way through the darkness. (Psalm 119:105)

I’m comforted and held, never alone in my struggle. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

RELATED: From the Tired Mom in Need of Grace

I’m given grace in my weakness, love in my brokenness, and hope stronger than my fear.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”
(Psalm 34:18).

I’m held together by a God who wrote my story, who gave me these kids, who loves them even more than I do.

I’m threaded into His story of grace. I’m weeping and held close; I’m laughing and lifted high; I’m crawling and pulled to my feet. I’m on my face praying for a new chance, and I’m always, always found in the shelter of His arms.

On my own, I’ll never be good or enough. But this was never a question of how I’ll measure upthis was always the story of how He transcended space and time to give me hope, to share His strength, and to lavish His love.

He’s always enough, so I don’t have to be.

RELATED: To the Mom Trying to Do It All, You’re In God’s Way

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15: 57-58).

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Rachel Weidner

I'm a stay-at-home mom, work-at-home writer, coffee drinker, and book hoarder. I love taking pictures and eating chocolate. Writing helps me stay sane, so I blog about motherhood, marriage, faith, and everything in between. You can find me on Facebook at Forever Dreaming Writing by Rachel or on Instagram at @foreverdreamingwritngbyrachel.

Your Husband Needs Friendship Too

In: Faith, Friendship, Marriage
3 men smiling outside

As the clock inches closer to 7:00 on a Monday evening, I pull out whatever dessert I had prepared that week and set it out on the kitchen counter. This particular week it’s a trifle, but other weeks it may be brownies, pound cake, or cookies of some kind. My eyes do one last sweep to make sure there isn’t a tripping hazard disguised as a dog toy on the floor and that the leftover dinner is put away. Then, my kids and I make ourselves scarce. Sometimes that involves library runs or gym visits, but it mostly looks like...

Keep Reading

This Is Why Moms Ask for Experience Gifts

In: Faith, Living, Motherhood
Mother and young daughter under Christmas lights wearing red sweaters

When a mama asks for experience gifts for her kids for Christmas, please don’t take it as she’s ungrateful or a Scrooge. She appreciates the love her children get, she really does. But she’s tired. She’s tired of the endless number of toys that sit in the bottom of a toy bin and never see the light of day. She’s tired of tripping over the hundreds of LEGOs and reminding her son to pick them up so the baby doesn’t find them and choke. She’s tired of having four Elsa dolls (we have baby Elsa, Barbie Elsa, a mini Elsa,...

Keep Reading

When You Just Don’t Feel Like Christmas

In: Faith, Living
Woman sad looking out a winter window

It’s hard to admit, but some years I have to force myself to decorate for Christmas. Some years the lights look a little dimmer. The garlands feel a bit heavier. And the circumstances of life just aren’t wrapped in a big red bow like I so wish they were. Then comparison creeps in like a fake Facebook friend and I just feel like hiding under the covers and skipping it all. Because I know there’s no way to measure up to the perfect life “out there.” And it all just feels heavier than it used to. Though I feel alone,...

Keep Reading

When Your Kids Ask, “Where Is God?”

In: Faith, Kids
Child looking at sunset

How do I know if the voice I’m hearing is God’s voice? When I was in high school, I found myself asking this question. My dad was a pastor, and I was feeling called to ministry. I didn’t know if I was just hearing my dad’s wish or the call of God. I was worried I was confusing the two. It turns out, I did know. I knew because I was raised to recognize the presence of God all around me. Once I knew what God’s presence felt like, I also knew what God’s voice sounded like. There is a...

Keep Reading

To the Woman Longing to Become a Mother

In: Faith, Grief, Motherhood
Woman looking at pregnancy test with hand on her head and sad expression

To the woman who is struggling with infertility. To the woman who is staring at another pregnancy test with your flashlight or holding it up in the light, praying so hard that there will be even the faintest line. To the woman whose period showed up right on time. To the woman who is just ready to quit. I don’t know the details of your story. I don’t know what doctors have told you. I don’t know how long you have been trying. I don’t know how many tears you have shed. I don’t know if you have lost a...

Keep Reading

I Was There to Walk My Mother to Heaven

In: Faith, Grief, Loss
Hand holding older woman's hand

I prayed to see my momma die. Please don’t click away yet or judge me harshly after five seconds. I prayed to see, to experience, to be in the room, to be a part of every last millisecond of my momma’s final days, final hours, and final moments here on Earth. You see, as a wife of a military man, I have always lived away from my family. I have missed many birthdays, celebrations, dinners, and important things. But my heart couldn’t miss this important moment. I live 12 hours away from the room in the house where my momma...

Keep Reading

God Sent Me to You

In: Faith, Motherhood
Newborn gazing at mother with father smiling down

I was a little unsure As I left God’s warm embrace: What will it be like? What challenges will I face? There were so many questions Running through my mind. I asked around for the answers I was hoping to find. Who will hold me And cuddle me tight? Who will rock me To sleep at night? RELATED: The Newborn Nights Feel As Endless As My Love For You Who will comfort me When I’ve had a rough day? Who will be there To take my worries away? Who will nourish me And make sure I grow? Who will read...

Keep Reading

Addiction Doesn’t Get the Final Say Over My Son

In: Faith, Motherhood
Woman praying with head bowed

She is so tired. It is a kind of tired that no amount of sleep or rest can alleviate. It is a kind of tired that surpasses physical and even mental fatigue. It is a tiredness of soul—a tiredness that comes from wondering, and grieving, and not knowing how to save her son from the drugs the enemy has bound him up in. She kneels alone on the floor in her bedroom closet. This is where she came when the fear and the uncertainty and the panic started to creep into her heart again. She came here to pray, though...

Keep Reading

I Want to Be a Praying Mama

In: Faith, Motherhood
Dirt road at dusk

I want to be that praying mama. The one who stops on the side of the road when the time seems fit, just to take those few short, undistracted moments to lift my kids up to God. I want to be that praying mama. The one who prays while she drives down the road to schools and lifts each one up as they exit the car for the start of their day. RELATED: Praying For Your Kids is Holy Work of Motherhood I want to be that praying mama. The one who does it so much that the youngest doesn’t...

Keep Reading

Blessed Are Those Who Can’t Even

In: Faith, Living
Woman rubbing temples with hands, color photo

We argued about an orange last night after dinner. Not even a large orange. A tiny mandarin. As emotions escalated between my beloved husband and me, the eldest child graciously removed herself from the table and donned noise-canceling headphones while the smallest child openly snickered and was dispatched to her room to play while we hashed things out in “peace.” I’d love to say that was the most insane thing we’ve ever argued about, but that would be a lie. My kids love to remind us about the breadstick incident a few years back. Life has been a bit overwhelming...

Keep Reading