Caffeinated Crunchy Christian Moms

Read: Genesis 24-27

Today’s Bible study felt really hard for me. I am so tired. My kids don’t sleep, story of my life, and I had such a hard time focusing on the words on the page. I even tried listening to it an audio version, but my mind just kept wandering.

Thankfully, my aunt-in-law came over to hang out with my toddler so I could decompress a little and take care of my sweet baby girl who only wants me right now. I’m struggling. I don’t feel like I have the mental capacity for a deep study. But I also know that my relationship with God matters; especially on the days when it feels the hardest.

It’s okay to have hard days and it’s okay to ask for help. I’m a firefighter’s wife, and my husband just got out of the Army. I’m used to solo parenting. I can do it. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially on little to no sleep. I want to rely on God more in these moments instead of just pushing through on my own strength. I pray all the time that He would make me a better mother, the kind who leads her children on the path He has planned for them. Even when I feel like I’m barely holding it together, He has not abandoned me.

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness.” -Genesis 24:27

“The Lord had blessed him in every way.” -Genesis 24:1

Sometimes blessing doesn’t look like ease. Sometimes it looks like help showing up at the right time. A family member or friend stepping in. A nap. An encouraging text message. A reminder that you’re not alone.

“Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife… and the Lord answered his prayer.” -Genesis 25:21

It’s so important to have a husband who prays over and for his wife and family. I’m grateful for that. And even when he’s gone or exhausted too, we serve a God who listens and answers.

Going back to today’s reading, I’m also really wrestling with Isaac and Rebekah playing favorites. They had favorites and it clearly divided their home. I don’t fully understand it.

“Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” -Genesis 25:28

I especially don’t understand why Rebekah and Jacob chose to trick Isaac and take Esau’s blessing (Genesis 27). I suppose that I understand the surface-level “why.” The blessing meant inheritance, leadership, and wealth. But that’s still his brother and her son. Rebekah clearly loved Esau too though. After everything falls apart and Esau is furious, she says:

“Why should I lose both of you in one day?” -Genesis 27:45

In chapter 25 we see Rebekah be told that:

“The older will serve the younger.” -Genesis 25:23

Maybe she believed she was helping God fulfill His promise. Maybe she didn’t trust that He could accomplish it without her stepping in. How often do I try to “help” God instead of trusting Him to handle what He already promised? God’s plan still moved forward. His promise wasn’t stopped by their dysfunction. But the family paid a relational cost.

As a mom, this feels like maybe a warning. My kids are watching. The tone that I set matters. The comparisons that I make, even subtly, matter. I never want to create division or favoritism in my home. At the same time, this story reminds me that even faithful families can be messy. God works through imperfect parents. He works through tired moms. He works through people who don’t always get it right. Today’s Bible time wasn’t polished or profound; it was distracted and honest and that’s okay too.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you relate to the challenge of balancing motherhood, exhaustion, business, and time with God?
2. How does knowing that God works through imperfect parents and messy families change your perspective on your own parenting?
3. How do you pray for your spouse and children, and how does it shape your relationship with them and with God?

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