Day 6: Worn Out? How to Rely on God’s Strength When You Have None Left - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - October 4, 2025

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“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Sometimes I stop and take the time to reflect, and I am overwhelmed by the fact that my husband and I have finished raising our two kids! We have been parents for 35 years! We homeschooled our children, so I spent almost every day with them. That means we had 8 years of babies and toddlers and 16 years of daily life and homeschooling! That is a lot of 2 o’clock feedings, changing diapers, potty training, birthday parties, meal planning, grocery store trips (life before online shopping!), teaching kids to read, daily lessons, doing laundry, sick days, discipline, sleepovers, Christmas gifts, play dates, homeschool coops, watching kids play soccer and volleyball, making sure there are enough snacks for when friends come over, graduation parties, college classes, relationships, engagements, and then weddings!

When I think about all that went into making those years that they needed to be for my children, I wonder how I did it all! They were wonderful, beautiful, happy, overwhelming, chaotic, exhausting days. Each day was a gift from God, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything!

I remember feeling tired often, but I fully embraced each season. There were complex parts and amazing parts in each of them, and I am surer now than I ever was that I have never had the strength, in and of myself, to do all that has needed to be done in the seasons of motherhood. I am confident that God’s strength enabled me to accomplish all I have over the past 35 years of being a mom. And even now, as the mom of adults (and a grandma of 3!), I depend entirely on God to do what I am called to do in this season of motherhood.

God’s Word clarifies that we are weak, but that doesn’t hinder God. Our weakness is a pathway to experiencing God’s power and a platform for Him to show His power! When we are exhausted or don’t know how we will do all that is required of us as moms, we need to rest in Him and allow His strength to infuse and strengthen us.

Motherhood pushes our limits in ways nothing else does. But God’s Word reminds us that these limits are not barriers—they are invitations to rely on God.

The Gospel and our weakness

Jesus showed us how to live in dependence on the Father. Though He was God, He became fully human and experienced weariness, hunger, and the need for rest. The Bible tells us, in Hebrews 4:15, that He can sympathize with our weaknesses and was tempted in every way that we have been tempted. He prayed for strength, sought quiet moments of renewal, and relied on the scriptures as his standard and guide.

The gospel reminds us that we are not meant to carry the load alone. Christ invites us to lay down our weariness, striving, and exhaustion at His feet. He promises to sustain us, to fill us, and to empower us to love and serve even when we feel like we don’t have the strength to do one more thing.

Weakness is not a sign of failure—it is a space where God’s power is revealed. When we are worn out, He is strong!

What Can We Do?

How do we practically rely on God’s strength when we don’t have enough?

Acknowledge your weakness. Never think you can do it all alone, because you can’t. Acknowledge your weakness and admit that you are tired. Pray and be honest with God.
Pray for strength. Ask God to fill you with what you need to fulfill His purpose, one step at a time. Tell Him that you can’t persevere without Him enabling you to. Depend on Him. His power is made perfect not in our ability but in our dependence.
The purpose is to find moments to rest. Take time to pause. Even short amounts of time can be life-giving—five minutes to sit and pray, a brief nap, or a quiet cup of coffee—all these things can be little times of refreshment for your body, soul, and mind, and will allow God space to replenish you.
Ask God to surround you with community. One of God’s most significant provisions is the body of Christ, and He wants to use us to help strengthen each other. Be willing to allow your brothers and sisters in Christ to help you. That’s what they are there for. Whether meeting for coffee, a play date, praying together, or a quick phone call to request prayer in a weak season, don’t hesitate to reach out. And ask God to show you who you can help strengthen as well.
Ask God to give you an eternal perspective. Your work may feel mundane and endless, but Christ’s strength gives us what we need to persevere so that in the end, his purposes are fulfilled, and His name is glorified.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

How can acknowledging your weakness open the door to experiencing God’s power?
What is one practical way you can rely on God’s strength today instead of your own?
Do you know someone who might need you to step in and help strengthen them in God today?

LET’S PRAY

Lord, You promise that Your power is made perfect in weakness. Please remind me not to try to accomplish all that is required of me as a mom in my own strength. Teach me how to rely on You entirely. I was hoping you could fill me with your power so I can persevere in this calling of motherhood. I appreciate your grace in my weakness. Your grace is sufficient. I want to look back after my kids are grown and see that I relied on You and that You were the One who enabled me to raise my children. And I will give you all the glory! Amen.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/sturti

Gina Smith is a wife of 37 years, mom of 2, and grandma of 3. She is a writer and author, writing her very first published book in her empty nest years. She has a passion to come alongside the younger generation to encourage them, strengthen them in God, and learn from them. You can find Gina at her website www.ginalsmith.com, and her book Everyday Prayers for Joy can be found anywhere books are sold.

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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.

Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.

Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.

I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!