I recently heard another mom, with whom I have a great deal in common, ask about which blogs she should be reading. She said,

I want to read blogs for Christian women, but not anyone who sounds like they have it all together. I’m so discouraged right now. “

I didn’t have the heart to recommend my own blog, and her question got me thinking, “Do I sound like I have it all together? If any of you met me in person or visited my house, would you be disappointed?”

If I told you that I’m still in my pajamas, and my desk is a mess, and that I’m not sure what I’m serving for breakfast this morning, would you like me more because I was “real” or less because I was “not what you expected”?

I’ve always said that this blog is about pleasing Christ and not about pleasing people. I haven’t always lived that way, but that is the goal. It’s an odd goal in the blogging world, where pageviews and subscriber numbers and Facebook “likes” seem to rule the day. I have to remember that it is only by His grace that I have something to say, and a forum on which to say it, and anyone who will listen.

There’s a very real possibility that I’m talking to myself this morning. I haven’t done much in the past few months to “grow” this blog. In fact, I’ve done a lot of things that have probably made me “irrelevant”. I’d like to say that I don’t care, but I do. Would not caring make me more spiritual? Would caring make me more worldly?

The sun is rising and soon, my little ones will be, too. In actuality, I have a little boy laying on the floor next to me, a baby girl asleep in my lap, and a vague urge to delete this post and forget the whole thing–for fear that I might miss out on some real life with babies if I type one more sentence.

“But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Lamentations 3:21-24

Are you discouraged? Tired? Unsure that what you are doing matters?

Do you know that the things you have been called to do matter, but feel that you are doing a lousy job?

I could tell you that I’ve been there–that I know what you’re feeling–that I struggle with those very things again and again and again, but I’m not sure that would make much of a difference.

Instead, I’ll tell you that Christ has been there. When He suffered on the cross, He did so for you–all your failures, flaws, and shortcomings, as well as the darkest evils of your heart–and you are redeemed. Bought and paid for by His blood, if you are His by grace through faith. Even now, He intercedes on your behalf at the right hand of God. He is your high priest who is able to sympathize with your weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

He cannot fail. He does not sleep. He will never leave you nor forsake you. And His mercies are new every morning.

Do you believe it? Will you?