Recently, I was talking to a client who is in the thick of motherhood. She has four young kids and feels like she’s constantly losing her patience and stressed out. I could completely relate to her because I’ve been there before. It seems like for us moms, we are either exhausted or overwhelmed…or both. We often feel like we’re not good enough and then we begin to allow our struggles to define us.

“I am exhausted”
“I am overwhelmed”
“My kids will never listen, I am a terrible mom”

I want to encourage you to remember that your struggle is not your identity. Yes, you are a mom and you are working hard, and I am sure you are exhausted and overwhelmed but don’t forget all of the other amazing things about you too! You have a lot to offer the world, so don’t let your struggles keep you from reaching your potential. You are worth more than your struggle!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent way too much of my life allowing my struggle to become my identity. I’ve allowed my circumstances to define me instead of allowing what God says about me to define me. The Word says that we will have trouble in this life (John 16:33) so we can expect there to be struggle. However, God never intended for our struggle to become our identity. He wants our faith to be our foundation and our hope in Him to be our security. But so often, we let the overwhelm of life or we worry to the point of allowing the spirit of fear take root in our hearts and it sets up camp there until we actually start to believe the lies it’s telling us about who we are.

When we forget who we are, we’re easily tempted to believe the lies the enemy tells us: “You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You don’t belong.” But God is saying, “I have called you by name. I have given you an inheritance. You are mine.” So, when the faithlessness of this world tries to steal our hope, let us remember that our future is secure. We are not defined by our struggle; we are defined by who God says we are. Have faith in that and know that faith always gives birth to hope. So, let us dare to hope again because our God is a God of hope (Romans 15:13). He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Whether we are struggling or life is calm, “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13). So, take heart, my friend. Your struggle is not your identity. You are a beloved child of God, destined for greatness.

We all have days when we feel like we’re just barely hanging on. We’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and our to-do list is never-ending. It’s easy to feel like we’re not good enough during these times, especially when it seems like everyone else around us is managing just fine. But you are not your struggle. You are not defined by how hard you’re working or how tired you are or by how well (or not well) your children behave. You are so much more than that. So don’t let your struggle become your identity. Don’t let it define who you are. You are loved, cherished, and valuable – no matter what.