Hope for Weary Moms: A 5-Day Devotional Sýnishorn

If a real-life job description were written for mothers, it would probably include: “Must go to bed late and get up early.” How else can a mother get everything done? Even the Proverbs 31 woman attended to her duties late at night and early in the morning (Prov. 31:15, 18). In certain seasons of motherhood, getting plenty of sleep seems impossible—and that’s not just when the children are small!

Psalm 127:2 at first sounds like a reprimand for not getting enough sleep, but it’s not. What it does do is qualify the way we shouldn’t rise early and retire late by “eating the bread of anxious toil.” In other words, God doesn’t want you to be short on sleep because of worrisome thoughts or fretful activity, even if it’s on behalf of your family.

Are concerns about your children or about family responsibilities robbing you of sleep? Honestly answer the following questions to help you determine if you’re “eating the bread of anxious toil” instead of receiving God’s gift of rest. (If you have chronic insomnia or exhaustion or you’ve experienced abnormal changes in your sleep patterns, I suggest you see a doctor to discuss any physical conditions that may be contributing to your sleeplessness.)

Question 1: Do you lie awake at night or wake up early in the morning plagued with worries or fears about your children or other family members?

Question 2: Do you stay up late at night or get up in the early mornings to tackle your family responsibilities with feelings of worry, discouragement, or frustration?

Question 3: Do you stay up late at night spending hours on social media, watching TV, or doing a hobby to escape the stresses of the day?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, there’s hope for you! The Lord “gives to his beloved sleep” (Ps. 127:2). Just as we learned in yesterday’s devotion that the Lord is the one who ultimately builds the house and guards the city, he’s also the one who gives us rest. Have you ever thought of sleep as a good gift from God? It is! It’s one way he provides peace and rejuvenation for your heart, mind, and body. If you can identify any habits of thinking or doing that are keeping you from sleep, take practical steps to set them aside and receive this gracious gift from his hand.

As you think of sleep as a gift from the Lord, remember Peter in prison (Acts 12). King Herod Agrippa was persecuting the Jerusalem church, and Peter had been arrested and thrown behind bars to await his fate. The night before Peter was to be tried and possibly sentenced to death, he slept (Acts 12:6). He could have stayed awake to fret or formulate a plan for his defense, but he didn’t. He rested his head, closed his eyes, and went to sleep. He entrusted the following day to his Lord, who proved himself faithful. Weary mom, entrust your tomorrow to the Lord—and rest.