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Women sometimes joke about feeling as if we need to be like Wonder Woman in our daily lives. We often juggle a career, kids, marriage, friendships, and church activities. We start the day exhausted and end it the same way. Yet we push ahead, feeling sure we too are called to be superheroines who save the world. We pay the price with our bodies, hearts, and minds.
Many of us also harbor a secret—one we share with only a few people. Despite our Herculean efforts, our endless giving, and our selfless devotion…they never feel like enough. There is always another load of laundry to do, another hurting heart to comfort, another Bible study to attend. We silently wonder, “If this is the abundant life, why am I so tired?”
I’ll admit that I’ve often struggled with this question. As a type A, motivated, goal-oriented woman, I can wear myself out in a hurry. Wonder Woman and I are a bit different. She knows her mission, and that’s all she does. She also knows both her powers and her limitations.
I, on the other hand, look at Philippians 4:13 and say, “I can do everything…so that’s what I’d better do.” But I’m learning that God never calls me to do it all. My mission isn’t to save the world; Jesus has already done that. My mission also isn’t to be like my neighbors or the women I admire in my Bible study.
In The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and Life, author Laurie Beth Jones says, “You are either living your mission or you are living someone else’s.” The world tells us we need to do it all; Jesus reminds us that we’re called to fulfill a unique purpose. We can recognize our God-given strengths and respect our limitations. And when we do, the power we have through Christ exceeds anything we can imagine.
In the kingdom of God, we’re all Wonder Women.
Life is hard sometimes—
crazy, mixed-up, messed up.
And there you are in the middle of it all,
just doing your thing…
being strong and brave
and beautiful
like it’s no big deal.
But let me tell you, girl,
it is.
Not everyone can do what you can do.
Not everyone can handle things the way you can.
And while you wonder sometimes
if you’re doing okay…
the rest of us are just
watching in wonder.
–excerpt from God’s Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman {available as a book or ebook.}
{You can find all of these items and the ploque above in the Blessings Unlimited God’s Heart Collection. Great news! You can now shop online with Blessings Unlimited too!}
Thanks so much for being here this week. “In God’s Heart I Am…?” will continue! Every Tuesday on Heart to Heart with Holley we’ll talk about a different word. You can write a post on your blog about that word and link it up. Next week’s word: Loved.
Holley Gerth, InGodsHeart.com
Leave a Comment
Amy Hunt says
I have discovered this same thing–that though we might have the ability to do it, we don’t need to do it. If it’s not for us, we’ll likely get burned out and meet what seems like the end of our rope. I’m grateful my Father meets me there–where I sometimes get myself way too deep in the mixed up interpretation of what I *should* do–and He places me back on His path for me. This is one of the most important lessons of my life.
Tricia says
If I am reading above correctly…that our family won on Monday….Elliott Cross…..yeah!!!!! We loved posting our photo’s about who we are in God’s heart! What do we do now…do you need an email, phone number, mailing address??? Thank you so much for blessing us, encouraging us and walking the journey along side us! I am so excited and honored to have won something, thank you for your generosity!
because of HIM,
Tricia Cross
Holley Gerth says
Yes, Tricia! Congratulations! Send me an email at holley@holleygerth.com.
Harmony says
Needed this today! Thanks!
Beth says
does wonder woman sleep? who does her hair? does she ponder the stars as she leaves the grocery store with her cart? is she there for her kids, her man, and pay the mortgage on time? are the surfaces in her home covered with dirt, hand prints and homeschool books?
i never thought i was wonder woman, I never really wanted to be wonder woman, but i certainly caught the vibe that it was expected of me. furthermore, to my own undoing, i was good at being wonder woman. I could cook, sew, work the night shift, share the gospel with teens, and attend grad school. i have tried to leave that girl behind- but she keeps showing up!
my wonder woman saga ends with fatique, resentment, doubts about my own worth and worthiness. and we all know that when wonder woman ain’t happy, nobody’s happy…
Beth says
Oh I love this, “to my own undoing, I was good at being wonder woman.” Yes! That’s it! As soon as others can see you really can juggle and do it all, the expectation starts to form that you will. And it’s really hard to break out of that mold once you’ve started…..
A lot of us gals are excellent at appearing we can do it all, when we are really crumbling under the weight of that facade.
You’ve really hit on something there that’s worth exploring further!
Anonymous says
Wonder Woman told her family of origin “I can’t do it all. You’ll have to figure out a way to do this yourselves.” Boy did they get mad!!!
The weight of the facade, as you wrote, is a massive burden. And the facade is not always about what others will think- it’s for me too. Who am I when/if I am not Wonder Woman? Part of the reality is that Wonder Woman will always be Wonder Woman, even when she is needs to experience wonder and care and rescue. It’s hard to imagine Wonder Woman sitting in a rocker on a porch.
Beth says
Wow, this is exactly what I needed this morning. I have been struggling all morning, saying to God, “I’m tired of taking care of everyone. I can’t do it all. I’m so, so weary.” I know He doesn’t WANT me to do it all, so I’ve been praying and giving more over to Him and trying so hard to trust Him, when I just want good news and answers and I want them now. Or, yesterday would have been nice.
Today I do feel like a worn out Wonder Woman. The things that loom before me – and I keep reminding myself that others have much bigger concerns, but when they’re your concerns, they’re huge – are like the Anakites in the Promised Land. Larger than life, taller than trees. Yet, God promised to drive them out- not because of the approaching inheritants’ wonderful righteousness and goodness, but because of the Anakite’s wickedness. I must trust that God knows the problem areas that are “out there” for me that need to be taken care of, and when the answers finally DO come and the path finally does clear, it’s not because I’ve done such a great job or been so godly. It’s because God is God and knows what is best and knows how to get me from point A to point B better than I do. I just need to trust Him.
Holley Gerth says
Praying for you this afternoon, Beth…
shana says
i’m so excited . . . i won Thursday’s giveaway! Thanks! Do you need my address or something? I can email it.
Blessings,
Shana
Holley Gerth says
Yes, Shana, email me at holley@holleygerth.com!
cheryl newsted says
What a great reminder today . Thank you
Lauren says
Loved this!!! Thank you! =)