There are a lot of mamas out there who prepared for a snowpocalypse this week.
We’re trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy, working remotely while entertaining kids who are suddenly stuck at home.
Our sanity may have flown the coop about 48 hours and 32 snack requests ago.
And if I had to guess, I’d say many of us have either fallen behind on our New Year’s goals, are hanging on by a thread, or have quietly given up altogether.
This is usually the point where things start to feel messy.
Plans shift.
Motivation wanes.
Quiet disappointments creep in.
And what you decide to do next matters, but not in the way we usually think.
Scripture reminds us that falling behind isn’t the end of the story.
“Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” — Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)
But what this verse doesn’t say is just as important as what it does.
What “Getting Back Up” Is Not
When we hear “rise again,” our instinct is often to translate it as:
Try harder.
Push through.
Fix it fast.
Make up for lost time.
We assume that getting back up means doubling down on effort, resetting the plan, tightening the schedule, and applying more pressure.
But Proverbs 24:16 doesn’t say the righteous rise again by sheer willpower.
It doesn’t say they never stumble.
It doesn’t say they recover quickly.
It doesn’t say they get it right the next time.
It simply acknowledges a truth of faithful living:
Falling is part of the journey.
And rising isn’t about proving strength. It’s about continuing forward with wisdom and dependence on God.
Why Trying Harder Often Makes Things Worse
For overwhelmed moms especially, “trying harder” usually means borrowing energy we don’t actually have.
It looks like:
- Ignoring exhaustion
- Overriding emotional and physical limits
- Forcing goals that no longer fit the reality of our lives
That kind of striving doesn’t produce lasting progress.
It produces burnout, resentment, and guilt.
And eventually, instead of rising again, we stop trying altogether, not because we’re lazy or uncommitted, but because we’re depleted.
Sometimes the reason your goals feel impossible isn’t because you’ve failed.
It’s because the way you’re trying to rise again isn’t aligned with the season you’re in.
Rising Again Might Look Like Surrender
Here’s the reframe I want to gently offer:
What if getting back up doesn’t mean doing more… but doing differently?
What if rising again means:
- Letting go of unrealistic timelines
- Releasing goals that were built for a different season
- Allowing God to redefine what faithfulness looks like right now
Surrender doesn’t mean giving up on what matters.
It means loosening your grip on how it’s supposed to happen.
And that kind of surrender often creates space for wiser, gentler progress.
When Falling Becomes an Invitation
In Scripture, falling is rarely the end of the story. It’s often the place where transformation begins.
Falling exposes:
- Where we’re overextended
- What we’re carrying that was never ours to carry
- Which goals were fueled by pressure instead of peace
And when we allow ourselves to pause instead of panic, falling behind can become an invitation to re-align with God’s pace instead of rushing ahead of Him.
You don’t need to punish yourself for falling.
You need permission to rise again with grace.
What Faithful Progress Can Look Like Right Now
If you feel behind, consider this:
Faithful progress might look like:
- Choosing one small step instead of an overhaul
- Adjusting expectations instead of abandoning the goal
- Naming what’s no longer sustainable
- Asking God what this season is meant to hold
Rising again doesn’t require a dramatic restart.
Sometimes it simply looks like standing up, taking a breath, and taking the next right step, without shame.
A Gentle Word If You’re Struggling
If you’ve fallen behind on your goals…
If January hasn’t gone the way you hoped…
If trying harder feels exhausting instead of motivating…
Please hear this:
You are not failing.
You are not weak.
And God is not disappointed in you.
The righteous fall.
And they rise again.
Not by force.
Not by frenzy.
But by faith.
Looking Ahead
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more about what it looks like to move from striving to surrender, especially for overwhelmed moms who are tired of carrying everything alone.
If this message resonates, know that you’re not alone and you don’t have to navigate this season without support.
For now, let this be enough:
You can rise again.
And you don’t have to do it by trying harder.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is surrender and trust God to meet you right where you are.
I’m praying for you. 🩷
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