Do you ever feel defeated by life? It’s so easy to get caught in your head, feeling the weight of anxiousness pressing down on your shoulders. Lately, I’ve felt so heavy—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It seems like no matter how much I work or focus, everything feels pointless. I wash, fold, and put away laundry, but there’s always more. When I pour time into homeschooling my kids, I get behind on chores or run late for their activities. By 3 p.m. each day, I’m exhausted, struggling just to keep my eyes open. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost fallen asleep at piano lessons or band practice with the kids.
Too much sugar? Probably. Not enough sleep? Definitely. Too much time spent working rather than breathing in God’s Word and resting in His peace? Absolutely.
Some evenings, I feel so burnt out that I can’t even bear to be touched. And yet, my determined cat is there, nudging his way into my lap. We end up in this little battle where I push him away, and he keeps coming back. In the end, he wins, and I end up falling asleep with him in my lap while watching some show. This strange, busy little routine sums up my days: wake up, chores, cook, homeschool the kids, clean, cook, clean, laundry, dishes, cook, more chores, put the kids to bed, and fall asleep with the cat on my lap. It’s not romantic. It’s just real life, and it isn’t always easy. I don’t always have the best attitude about it, either. When Paul talks about bringing a “sacrifice of thanksgiving,” it truly feels like a sacrifice, especially when gratitude doesn’t come naturally when you are exhausted.
I know I’m blessed. I know that, as a middle-class American with running water, working appliances, and plenty of conveniences, my struggles are “first-world problems.” But that doesn’t make my challenges feel any less real or exhausting.
I want to be everything for everyone, but just when I think I’m catching up, just when I glimpse rest on the horizon, something goes wrong. Someone gets sick, someone gets hurt, or the kids decide to play “tornado” through the house. I power through, but my energy is draining. I think part of my struggle is that I’m not looking to the true source of my strength. I keep trying to hold it all together on my own. I know, in my head, that I can’t do it alone—but I keep trying anyway. I want to hand it all over to God, yet I can’t seem to let go of the control I think I need to keep things in order. There’s this constant tension between my desire for perfection and the reality of our imperfect world, where the work is never finished.
Finances, too, feel like a growing burden. I knew that this stay-at-home, homeschooling, budget-conscious life wouldn’t be easy. God has been faithful, showing up in unexpected ways when things seemed impossible. Yet even after seeing His provision, I find myself second-guessing both Him and myself. Deep down, I know that we’re in His hands. I know He’s faithful. But my faith still wavers. Sometimes, I wish I had faith to move mountains—but instead, it feels like I only have faith to move dishes.
Lately, I feel guilty with every purchase. Groceries are so expensive that I second-guess every item. I know it’s dramatic, but even buying essentials feels like moving a mountain. I know I’m not alone in this; I know so many others are feeling the weight of inflation and struggling to make it on an average income. We don’t eat out much, and I try to make meals at home. I joked to my husband the other day that I hadn’t had Mexican food in a month. It’s not a big deal, but it felt like one. Sacrificing date nights and dinners out is part of making this one-income life work. My husband even started donating plasma to help with expenses. That’s how we afforded my long-awaited Mexican dinner—a meal paid for with his “blood money.” It was delicious, but it also reminded me of just how hard life feels right now.
I’ve been feeling this way a lot lately: emotional, tired, heavy. But God is still good. He is still providing. I still got that Mexican food this week. My kids are well-fed, loved, and learning. They’re healthy and thriving. So why can’t I just keep trusting God?
This week at church, we were given some verses to hold onto when we feel discouraged. They resonated with my soul and offered a glimpse of the peace I keep pushing away. I just need to let God have His way. I need to trust, wait, and watch for my redemption.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17 NLT
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”Proverbs 3:6
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”Matthew 11:28
One of my favorite passages is Matthew 6:19-34, where Jesus tells us not to worry. He reminds us how much the Father cares for us and will provide for us.
Another reminder is found in Lamentations 3:22-25, where the author reflects on life’s hardships but remembers God’s goodness:
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!His mercies never cease.Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”
And finally, in 2 Corinthians 4:14-18, Paul encourages us that our struggles are temporary and that God will ultimately bring about His glory:
“We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
I love God so much, and I’m deeply grateful that He cares about every detail of our lives—the big things and the small, even when they feel overwhelming. He is our loving Father, always ready to give us good things when we ask instead of stones. If He provides for the birds and clothes the flowers so beautifully, how much more will He care for us? Oh, ‘me’ of little faith. He sees us through this life. I’ve seen Him answer prayers that only my heart has whispered, and I’ve seen Him show up in ways that seemed impossible. I just need to hold on to today, letting go of worries about tomorrow.
I don’t know what you’re facing today—maybe it’s discouragement, financial stress, exhaustion, political unrest, spiritual restlessness, or just feeling heavy. We all struggle. We all have times when we just don’t feel like we have it together. Sometimes we are just going through the motions. Sometimes we are spinning our wheels and getting nowhere. Just keep in mind that it could just be a season of growth. This life is hard but we need to remember that God has us in His hands. He will provide what we need. It may not come as quickly or look quite as we expect, but if we trust Him, He will see us through.