Shoba's Corner: Running On Empty
As I started my car after work, I noticed the light on my fuel tank flashing. I was nearly hitting the empty mark. I stopped at the gas station on my way back and quickly filled up.
Life can leave us feeling empty, hopeless and weary for no reason at all. On Sunday last week, I caught myself feeling like that. I couldn't do the regular chores. I felt I was empty inside.
I had absolutely no reason to feel this way. My husband and I were keeping good health. In the morning we attended a beautiful church service in our quaint church set on a small hill. The sermon and the songs had spoken to me and I had felt good. We had enjoyed a simple home cooked meal for lunch and I didn’t understand why I felt so hollow?
Running on empty looks different for different people. It may leave us feeling physically weak and tired, touchy and teary, or feeling emotionally down and hopeless.
As a mother have you felt like that?
Instead of allowing that feeling to take over your day and your life and spoiling the joyous journey of motherhood, try these.
1. A New Batch Every Morning
When we had visited Gordon Shaw’s friends in the UK several years back. Every morning when we came out of our rooms at the dawn of an English summer morning we were welcomed by the aroma of home-baking. Our gracious hosts made a fresh batch of muffins daily. Our boys tucked into them through the day. This reminded me of God’s mercy- new every morning.
“God’s mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning.”-Lamentations 3:22b-23a ESV
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.”-2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
Remind yourself that you have all you need today to fulfill your calling as a mother. You have strength, creativity, patience and energy. God’s grace and mercy is available for us. When we send our children off to preschool or kindergarten, we as mothers pack everything they may need in their bags don’t we? Snacks and water, juice and a change of clothes. We leave love notes so they will know that we love them and are thinking of them. God does the same for us.
His mercy and his grace and always available and inexactly the right place, in the right amount.
2. Look For Ways To Fill Up
When feeling empty we have to take practical steps to fill up, just like how I went to fill up on petrol.
A friend of mine, Renu, likes to go to a cafe by herself to regroup and meditate. Another friend, Ria, likes to write down her prayers in her journal at the beach with the sound of the waves as a backdrop. Ranjit likes to sit in a church or by a quiet lake side when he needs direction and peace. I like to go for a walk by myself, play my favorite hymns or sometimes just sit in the quiet of the reserve behind our house. In the stillness I can hear the rustle of the leaves, the Fantail bouncing from branch to branch showing off its beautiful fan shaped tail, the clouds moving stealthy across the blue. I feel God with me then. Jayanthi likes to spend time with her cats and dogs. Neena goes on a drive alone, she prays aloud when she does this.
Refueling: find what works for you:
Walking
Sitting in silence
Enjoying nature
Meditating on Bible verses
Listening to worship music
Journaling your thoughts
Praying with a friend or mentor
Read 1 Peter 4:19, Psalm 31:14, 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Psalm 37:3 from your own Bible.
Highlight words or phrases which stand out to you.
“The Lord stood near Paul and said ‘Take courage!’ As you have testified for me in Jerusalem so you will testify in Rome’”-Acts 23:11 NIV
Here Paul experienced God’s presence, encouragement and clear direction.
God can give you and me the same experience today as we wait on Him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shoba Ranjitsingh is an architect, writer, a proud mother and an absolutely thrilled grandma to little Nivin. Shoba enjoys studying the Bible and her role as STL at Bible Study Fellowship in Auckland in NZ for 6 years has enabled her to now write and lead Women's Bible Studies. Helping women study and enjoy God's Word as they embrace everyday ordinary life is her prayer as a writer. Long walks, cakes, hymns, books, quiet family evenings, chatting with family across oceans describe Shoba. In this phase of life, Ranjit and Shoba enjoy feeding the birds, smelling the roses, pursuing their hobbies and being grateful for all that God has called them to do. Shoba works as a Learning Support in a Primary School in Auckland and everything simple, honest and true bring her joy!