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“I come to You, feeling weak and weary, seeking to rest in Your refreshing Presence. I know that You are always by my side, but sometimes I’m forgetful of Your nearness. I desire You above all else, for My soul finds rest in You alone. I’m grateful that You give strength to Your people and bless Your people with Peace.”
– Jesus Listens, July 28th

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After giving birth to my daughter, Lanie, I was fortunate to have a circle of friends who also had newborns. During those hazy early days, we texted each other encouragement through breastfeeding woes and sleepless nights. This connection was the lifeline that kept my head above water through what could easily be an isolating season.

But four months in, Lanie’s baby buddies started to leave her behind in one glaring area: sleep. Due to issues related to a tongue tie, Lanie still slept for only two hours at a time. As I began receiving glowing updates from my friends that their babies were now sleeping through the night and eating on a schedule, I wanted to be thrilled for them.

Instead, I sulked. I felt isolated, bitter, and forgotten. Waking up every two hours for months takes its toll, and I allowed self-pity to creep in. It lurked in the shadows, whispering lies as I trudged down the hall yet again to comfort my crying baby. Self-pity joined me at our messy lunch table where I sat heavy with discouragement from a never-ending morning of picking up sippy cups and shouldering the wearisome monotony of the day. 

In reality, I fell for that same old lie that Eve had believed in the garden: that God was withholding His goodness from me. Yet the truth was, I was cradling in my arms one of His most beautiful and treasured gifts: my precious daughter.

In His mercy, God provided the wisdom I needed to reframe my perspective and pull me out of a deep, emotional pit. He helped me view the constant interruptions of motherhood not as inconveniences but as a change of assignment. I practiced this new mindset and started declaring this phrase aloud, which eventually helped transform my self-pity into a sense of joy and purpose. Whenever I heard my baby cry while I was preparing a meal, getting dressed, or even sleeping, I would make a conscious effort to say aloud, “Change of assignment!” and then tend to her needs. This powerful perspective shift helped me to recognize that my role as a mother was not a hindrance or distraction, but rather the exact work God had called me to in this season of life. I was filled with hope as I realized I was not forgotten, but had been entrusted with a sacred mission by the Lord.

Do you ever feel invisible or forgotten? Are you allowing a circumstance in your life to drag you into the shadows of self-pity? I encourage you to adopt this phrase too: “What is my assignment, Lord? How can I practice joyful obedience at this very moment? How can I serve You by laying down my life for others, as You did for me?” I have continued to ask myself this question for the last ten years because it’s a valuable perspective-shaping tool for any season in the Christian life.

God does not give us new assignments to struggle through alone; He helps us. Here are a few applications from God’s Word for when you ask, “What is my assignment?”:

• When my toddler has been whining for an hour, and I’m ready to snap? Remember Proverbs 12:18 and 16:24: “Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing.” “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Ask the Lord to guard your tongue and fill your mouth with words of love and gentleness, even when you don’t feel like offering them.
• When I’m feeling overwhelmed or anxious and think I can shoulder my heavy burdens on my own? Lean on Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Even amid unrelenting needs, He can provide soul rest.
• When I’m utterly exhausted from sleepless nights and want to give up? Trust the God of Isaiah 40:29: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” 
• When I feel ashamed for how I’ve often failed as a mom? Rejoice in Psalm 103:10-12: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Praise Him for the unending mercy He has shown us in Christ!

Dear sister, if you’re in a season that tempts you to feel forgotten by God, be encouraged that these very days of motherhood—as trying as they can be—are your current assignment. God has not forgotten you. He sees you with the eyes of a loving Father and has given you this humble, holy work for His glory and for your good. For more free articles like these, download the Jesus Calling app!

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