Wounded was written out of a wounded heart. Alicia Searl shares her heartfelt stories of how she is constantly seeking truth to set her free to be the mom God is calling her to be. She realizes that failure is always an option, but with Christ, defeat doesn’t have to be. Like many moms, she yearns to be valued, craves deep and meaningful relationships, and is constantly searching to find calm in the chaos.
These 30 devotionals invites you into a conversation with a real mom struggling to stay the course. Alicia realizes her story is nothing special, but with the richness of God’s goodness, He can take our ordinary and make it extraordinary for Him. May you discover:
· That God’s plan is always the best plan
· Your view may be flawed, but God’s view is flawless
· How to make time for your husband when you have so many demands
· With a peaceful and forgiving heart, relationships can heal
· How to take a time out for yourself and just breathe
· The joy and hope that comes from knowing you have a Mighty Savior on your side
No matter what season you find yourself in as a mom, may God open up your heart and move in a way that reveals His amazing love for you. May you be encouraged to know that God cannot only make you a better mom, but can mend your wounds and heal you from within.
Motherhood is quite the journey and I am pretty sure if you are a mom, you can attest that there are times when you're in awe and amazed by this calling, while other times you just don’t feel cut out for it.
As I met up with other moms and we shared our hearts, it was apparent that we needed to feel more connected, however, many times we were left feeling alone. As a mom that truly struggles to remember her worth, craves meaningful connections and longs for peace, I started by just writing out my heart. God took it a step further and opened doors, making it very clear He wanted to use my story to send a message to moms. In my heart, I know He used my ordinary story for His extraordinary purpose.
My hope is that you can relate, feel encouraged, and know that you aren’t alone. As moms, we can often feel lost, misunderstood and lonely, maybe even struggling to find our purpose. My prayer is that this book brings you a sweet reminder – that you are valued, loved and worthy. God is using you to do great things, even in the midst of the mess!
It's a testimonial devotional that shares a story I believe every mom faces. The challenges of isolation, self-worth, and finding rest.
My story, your story. They are all worth sharing.
However, it seems as if we’ve gotten rather good at hiding them. We’ve somehow become afraid to open up our hearts for various reasons. Fear of judgement. Comparison. The lack of a powerful testimony. Not wanting to re-live the pain. Whatever it may be. And while our story won’t resonate with everyone, that’s okay, it doesn’t have to. But in sharing our heart, healing comes. That's because our story changes us and can bring hope to others. It can remind us of where we were, and how far God has carried us through. Not to mention, God has a beautiful way of bringing those that need to hear it, right to you!
Wounded. It’s a word we all carry and story we can all share. We may have different stories, but our wounds show our humanness, and exemplify God’s greatness. They showcase our weakness, but His strength. Reminding us of HIS sacrifice. His ultimate, selfless sacrifice.
So, yes, I’m a wounded mom, just laying out my heart. Hoping God can use it to speak to the mom that is hiding. The mom that is struggling in silence. The mom believing she doesn’t matter; afraid to share her story.
It’s okay to be wounded, not enough, not okay, and to even feel a little like chewed bubble gum- used, stale and flavorless (hence the cover of the book). It’s in those moments God intervenes. Softly speaking to our hearts. He knows that there is so much more than the season we find ourselves in. Yet, the beauty is, seasons change, hence changing us. Wounds heal. Scars mark a memory of how God’s grace held us and healed us. Being a wounded mom helps us see the desperate need for a mighty Savior. A fearless, flawless Savior!
What God Has to Say to You
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
Have you ever felt distant from God? Wondered if He heard your heartfelt prayers, your painful cries, and truly understood the depth of your heavy heart? Have you thought maybe He forgot about you? There is nothing that quite compares to the distance I experience when I can’t feel the warmth of my Heavenly Father. When the cold envelopes my heart and I grow numb and jaded to the life around me. Sometimes I just need a reminder of who I am, and the incredible, crazy love God has for me.
In those moments when we feel so far away, we can always go to the truth found in His Word. Let Him speak to our heart. If God could speak out loud to us, reminding us of His abundant love, this might be what He’d say to us:
“My sweet precious daughter. I want you to know I love you. The love I have for you cannot even be measured, as it is a pure love that you will only receive from me. You see, before you were even born, I cherished and adored you. Did you forget the magnitude of my love? The beauty that surrounds you, it was all created by me. Did you enjoy the sunset or that beautiful butterfly you saw on your walk the other day? I created them in my majestic handiwork to enjoy, but I thought you might enjoy them, too. Those sweet babies you hold in your weary arms, the ones that are always shaping and redefining you, I knew they needed just the right mother, and I chose you. Are you thankful to me for choosing you? Just as I took great care in forming each of those sweet little blessings, I also took special care in designing you. In every part I took great care, as I do with anything I create and speak into life. I programmed all your inner thoughts, your dreams, and your ambitions. They were all specifically put in place for you, by me. I purposefully made your precious beating heart; I was ever so particular in making that piece of you. I wanted you to have a heart that would first seek me, love me, honor, and glorify me, and become a woman after my heart, too. Although I won’t force you to love me and will never violate your free will, I am a God that desires you to want to know me and who I am. You need not fully understand my ways, only trust that I know what’s best for you. I tucked away special promises for you in that heart, so you would eventually come back when it led you astray. Are my promises not enough? When I began knitting you in your mother’s womb, I saw your past, present, and future all at once. I saw all your accomplishments, trials, and even knew when you would be left holding a broken heart. Once again, do you doubt my love for you? This is how I delicately made you, my sweet child. You see, I am not just any father, but The Father that adores you more than you will ever know. I could see you were worried again, and in need of a reminder. You have not been forgotten; you were and are always seen and heard by me. You were the one who forgot about the indescribable love I have for you. Please do not give up on me, as I will never, ever give up on you. Seek me and I will find you; ask me with a pure heart and it will be given to you; love me and believe in me and you will have the greatest love you’ve ever imagined, as well as eternal life in my kingdom. You, dear daughter, are my beloved!”
Open Up Your Heart
Take some time today to open your heart to a God that fearlessly adores you - every single part of you. Read Psalm 139 as David beautifully lays out how he reflects on who God is, praising Him. My words will never reflect the power of what God has to say to you, so go to Him and His Word and let Him reveal to you what He has to say. Write your heart to Him below if it helps and find some quiet time among the chaos to reconnect. He is waiting for you.
You are loved! So very much!