"Your Lap Won't Always Be This Full" - Laura Martin
The Lord spoke to my heart as I was reading my Bible one morning, and said “Your lap won’t always be this full.”
In that very moment I had a nursing baby while I read the Word.
You see, the foundation that I have in Christ is underneath all of the things that I am responsible for in a day. Regardless of the things that fall into my lap I cannot forget time with Him through His Word. In order to serve well I have to be fully consumed with who God is, and the only way to know who God is, is by reading His sweet words to us guiding us on our path.
To the woman who is single - “your lap” is full of connections with friends, your career, servanthood, and wonder of who God has for your future.
To the dating/engaged woman - “your lap” is full of newness in being wooed, date nights/long chats, and learning to balance all you once had as a single woman while allowing a man come in and lead you.
To the newly married couple - “your lap” is full of excitement as you create a life as one accord, potentially a new home/apartment to create with one another, and figuring out how to live with the person you fell in love with and committed to.
To the mother in every stage - “your lap” is physically full of babies/toddlers, or schedules become busy with the older children’s interests, all while trying to balance a marriage, dinner, and your work (whether that be in the home or outside).
And to my future self as an empty nester - “your lap” will be full of discovering life with your husband after creating a very dynamic life together, college or career send offs, welcoming new son in laws and daughter in laws into the mix, and grandkids one day.
Phases of life just add layers of extra energy spent on things you enjoy and use your time for. No matter the season of life your lap (aka your focus) will be consumed with busyness and abundance.
All of these things will help sanctify you. Some of what you face isn’t picture perfect. Things won’t go as planned. What you allow in, what you invite in, and what you surround yourself with either lead you to the Lord or away from Him.
”Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.“
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 CSB
I’m thankful in this moment of my life I can look before me and see the present needs, meet them and stay faithful. Our family has gone through many ups and downs in the last 7 years and where I have clung is the Word of the Lord. It has strengthened me in my weakest times. It has kept me consistent. I try to see past the current predicament and say “Lord, I want your eyes; what are you teaching me?” Otherwise I can get lost in the unknown. Feelings are real. Reality can be a slap to the face. But those feelings aren’t eternal. And trust me… I fail in setting my eyes on the Lord. It’s not always easy but the work is worth it.
So whatever your focus is set on in this season of life, know it’s not forever. Remind yourself what is eternal on a daily basis. And please, please, please know that you must surround yourself with other women who have gone before you. They have wisdom, they will remind you how short your season is, they can pray for you uniquely since they have been in your shoes and the Lord uses their journey to help strengthen and protect your future path.