Looming Monotony and Oatmeal . . . Again

Taken from Calm in My Chaos: Encouragement for a Mom's Weary Soul by Elisabeth K. Corcoran (Kregel Publications, 2001).

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.
—2 Corinthians 5:2

It’s 7:37 a.m. Let me rephrase that. It’s only 7:37 a.m. I’ve been up for over an hour and a half. Seems like three days. Sara is shunning her oatmeal, and Jack is already whining (with an hour to go before nap time). Monotony stretches before me, and I feel overwhelmed by the prospect of another day.

I’m not having a bad day, per se. It’s just . . . it’s just another day. Another day on the way to being just like yesterday and probably very similar to tomorrow. Do you ever feel like this?

I have already breathed a prayer to Jesus, “Please come be with me. I need Your help.” Yet, I feel the same. Sometimes my prayers seem to hit the ceiling and just kind of float there. I know Jesus is with me and that He is helping me, but I don’t always feel it.

So what can I do about this? I don’t have all the answers. Far from it. There are some days I just feel like sighing, and for no real reason at all.


I have one blessing that I’m sure of, though, one thing that helps me if I allow it to sink into my soul: if I am a believer, then I have everything in the world to be happy about. My sins are forgiven and I’m going to heaven. What else is there? Everything else in life is just details.

Unfortunately, it’s the details that I am struggling with this morning. And that’s fine. No one ever said life would be easy. It is normal for us to yearn for more. Just as long as we yearn while allowing the peace of God to comfort us.

Well, look at that? It’s already 8:12 a.m. My, how time flies. See, it’s all in the way you look at it.

Personal Touch

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re having a “sigh” day. Even if it’s for no apparent reason. We are human. But let us be thankful that we have the power of God to help us overcome these attitudes of discontentment, restlessness, and boredom.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
—Galatians 6:9

Prayer

Dear Father, I ask right now, as I feel so ho-hum, that You will touch my heart in an amazing way. Help me to feel Your love for me so I may rise above this monotony. Please meet me where I am. Amen.

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About the Author:

Elizabeth K. Corcoran keeps busy as mom to Sara and Jack, and wife to Kevin. She knows that motherhood is exhilarating, tiring, scary, joy-filled, frustrating, boring, and awe-inspiring all at the same time--this has nurtured her passion to encourage other moms through friendships, the women's ministry at her church, and her writings. She holds a degree from Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois, and has been published in The Joyful Woman magazine.