How to Juggle Mom Brain vs. God Brain
I sat in the pantry, slumped on the floor crying. It was too much. We had just moved to a new house a week after giving birth to my third child, a son who was having a hard time latching and every time he nursed it was painful.
His brother, who had just turned two, was into everything and constantly breaking things and taking them apart. My oldest was 5, and she was fiercely independent and stubborn, already with the attitude of a teenager.
My husband was busy working long hours at church. I couldn’t juggle everything, and I felt like I was falling apart. I remember crying out to God.
“I can’t do this motherhood thing! I am not GOOD at it! I can’t even think straight! This mom brain is real and I can’t remember anything. I feel crazy.”
It seemed like other moms were just naturally good at this thing. They knew how to balance their lives.
They were organized and put-together. Their houses weren’t a wreck and they always planned fun activities for their kids.
I was playing the comparison game and losing. I was drowning, and I didn’t know how to get back on my feet. I felt lost.
I dreamed of a break, some kind of “me time” where I could recharge and get myself back, but I knew in that season of life it just wasn’t happening.
When I finally came to the end of myself, Jesus took over.
What He began to show me in that season is yes, motherhood is difficult and impossible even. Which is actually a good thing because I can’t do it without Him!
I started to realize I was focusing on all my weaknesses instead of on His strength.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says, ” But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (ESV).
I began to embrace that verse and it started to change things.
Instead of saying “I can’t do this, Lord!” I said, “I can’t do this, but YOU can!”
The Holy Spirit convicted me of constantly claiming I was stupid. While “mom brain” is a real struggle, I didn’t have to live out of that.
Instead, I started speaking 1 Corinthians 2:16, “‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (ESV).
When I wanted to get down on my self for forgetting things or not thinking straight, I started saying, “No! I have the mind of Christ!”
When I felt absolutely exhausted I would speak Isaiah 40:31, “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” (ESV).
I stopped comparing fake life on social media and found a small group of moms in a similar season of life I could be brutally honest with. We shared the ups and downs of motherhood and prayed for each other.
I turned that pantry into “Mom’s Timeout,” a place to go for a moment when I felt overwhelmed. I put up a sign reminding me that since it was God’s idea that I parent three wild babies, He will equip me with all the patience, wisdom, love, and strength I need.
I turned that weeping place into a prayer closet and it changed everything.
God began to change my mindset as I renewed my mind. If He can do it for me He can do it for you!
Start speaking His truth over yourself daily. Focus on His strengths, not your weaknesses. He has given you everything you need not just to survive motherhood but to thrive in this season.
Your mindset as a mother matters! Watch this encouraging video of international speaker and mom coach Mona the Mom Mentor.
