Dear Exhausted Mom: Nighttime Devotional for Mamas of Newborns

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“Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’?” Isaiah 40:27

With a new baby, it’s easy to ask these same questions. Up late at night, your exhausted body and mind struggle to battle negative thoughts.

“Why are things so hard right now? Does anyone see me here, putting aside my desire to sleep and taking care of this baby? God, do you see me?”

Most likely written to a people in exile, to a people feeling lost and forgotten, new mamas can also find comfort in the prophet’s encouragement to God’s people.

Exhausted mom, remind yourself of God’s Attributes

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40:28

These are rhetorical questions. If you are a believer, you have heard! You know the story about God creating the earth, and probably teach it to your children. With just His voice, He called our intricate universe into existence. With His voice, mama! Your God is not bound by the same earthly constraints as you. He is the source of all strength. He has all wisdom. Nothing is hidden from Him, even you, tired mama.

“One reason rest and quietness are good for our souls is that they provide the necessary space to consider God and think on His goodness.”

Knowing Christ: Take Time to Consider the Attributes of God

Use these moments, late at night, to reflect on God’s attributes. Although a late night with a newborn may not be quiet, you can still gratefully use this opportunity to worship God for who He is and thank Him for seeing you.

Exhausted mom, remind yourself of what God has done for you

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:29

You know who He is, now remember what He has done for you. The same Holy God with all power, sitting on His throne above creation, lowered Himself. For your good and His glory, He became a man and experienced every emotion you could conceive. He felt utter physical exhaustion. He knows what it is like to give everything to another person at a level not even you understand. Through His death and resurrection, He sacrificed everything and accomplished your salvation.

And we have not been abandoned! We can now have an intimate relationship with this powerful God who knows us. Remind yourself of what he has done, but also preach to yourself what He continues to do.

Charles Spurgeon said,

“He loves to pour out into empty vessels. He does not give his power to the strong, but “he giveth power to the faint,” and the more faint thou art, the more room for his strength. Trust thou in him. If thou art burdened that thou canst not stand, lean on him. The more thou dost lean, the better will he love thee. He delights to help his people. ‘He giveth power to the faint.’”

Tired mama, trust in His continued work in your life.

Exhausted mom, recognize that you need His strength

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

When we fail to remember that growing weary is part of our humanity, we don’t wait on the Lord. The hustle mentality so prevalent in our culture is detrimental to our sense of humility, as many think that we should have unlimited reserves. This culture says, “Feeling tired? Get it together, mama and keep going!” But humans, even youth, grow weary.

Mounting up with wings like eagles sounds amazing, and I am so thankful for those spiritual highs that God provides, but in moments like this, when I’m up night after night with a newborn, I’m thankful that God also provides the strength for me to walk and not faint. He enables me to steadily persevere, faithfully serving Him each day. Mama, wait on the Lord and seek Him for your strength when another late night humbles you and reveals your limitations.

Did you know your mama wears glasses?

When our oldest had rough nights or was struggling through a meltdown, I remember watching my husband rock him while speaking mundane facts. Our youngest son recently had a rough night, and I smiled as my husband brought out the same trick to try and calm the crying baby.

“Did you know your mama wears glasses? She does. Let’s rock and listen to the fan. Do you feel it blowing? Here’s your puppy, Jack. You have two dogs.”

He calmly and repetitively talks until the little one falls asleep. Exhausted mom, you can spend your late nights speaking facts that are anything but mundane to calm your tired, lonely heart.

“God knows and sees all things, including me. God gives power to the faint, even to me. God will help me persevere.”

Recommended Resources

Weary Mom, Come to Me

Need Alone Time to Recharge? Solitude and the Introverted Mama