I’m over on Raising Homemakers again this week, sharing a message I am really passionate about. This is one that I hope will provide some much-needed hope, encouragement, and proper perspective for any woman struggling with feelings of overwhelm or stress in her homemaking.
We talk a lot these days, particularly in conservative Christian circles, about the fact that wise women build their homes, while foolish women tear theirs down (Proverbs 14:1). This emphasis is important, to be sure. After all, as the home goes, so oftentimes goes the church and the culture at large. Certainly a lot is at stake and the work we are doing within the four walls of our homes is crucial, world-changing work that is not to be taken lightly. Undoubtedly, we as women should be focusing on building our homes.
The problem, I believe, comes when we take this truth that wise women build their homes and then run with it, taking on the false belief that it all depends on us, that if we don’t do things just so, if we don’t dot all the Is and cross all the Ts, if we aren’t 100% intentional with our every waking moment, if we aren’t catechizing our children from sun up ’til sun down, then it will all fall apart and our children will automatically wind up heathens. As a result, we’re left with an epidemic of overwhelmed, overworked, stressed out, burnt out homemakers.
The Lord Builds the House
While we should indeed embrace the idea that, if we are wise, we women will be working to build up our homes, we need to likewise hold to the realization that, ultimately speaking, it is God who builds the house, not us. If He is not ultimately in charge and relied on for the fruit that we hope our work to produce within our homes, then we are working in vain. Consider the words of Psalm 127:1-2:
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.”
You see, sweet mamas, it doesn’t all depend on you!
To read the rest, head on over to Raising Homemakers!
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