Dear Mom,
Are you tired? Weary? Wondering if you can do this mothering thing? Wondering why God chose you for motherhood, the hardest job (but also the most wonderful job)?
Whether you waited and wanted for years and years like Sarah did, for God to finally bless you with a child, or whether you were surprised by the gift of motherhood like Mary was, and then wholeheartedly embraced it as your God-given calling, you are deemed special in God’s eyes.
He chose you because He trusts you.
He knew before your child was born that you were the right one to raise your child.
Perfect? No.
But the perfect one to raise your child.
Being a mother is the hardest job
Whether you gave birth to your child who shares your physical DNA, or you lovingly chose to give your child a home through adoption or some other means, you have been entrusted by God with one of the most important, most difficult, and most rewarding jobs there is. Being a mother is the hardest job.
Motherhood: a tremendous responsibility
According to Psalm 127:3-5, children are a gift from God. Yet motherhood is also a tremendous responsibility. An essential role of the mother is to firmly discipline her children in love, while teaching them to fear the Lord (Hebrews 12:5-11, Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 19:18, Proverbs 23:13-14, Proverbs 29:15-17).
Our role is also one of nurturing, to provide our children with a safe environment of support, acceptance, affection, and unconditional love despite their faults and failures (Titus 2:4, Ephesians 4:29-32, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 3:8-9).
From the day our children are born, we as mothers are in a unique opportunity to model for them living with integrity, doing what we say so that they can learn what it means to live in a way that pleases God (Deuteronomy 4:9, Proverbs 10:9, Psalm 37:18).
We are to be available to them throughout the day and night (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), teaching them the Word of God and a biblical worldview (Deuteronomy 4:10, Psalm 78:5-6, and Ephesians 6:4), while also helping them develop their skills and discover their strengths (Proverbs 22:6) as well as the spiritual gifts they’ve been given by God (Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12).
Big responsibility?
Yes.
It’s the hardest, most wonderful job there is.
But God has huge faith in you.
I know what you’re thinking (because I’ve been there). You’re not sure you have what it takes, right? You look around and see all the other moms doing it so much more perfectly.
Can I let you in on a little secret? The same enemy who sought to destroy Eve, the mother of all living things, is hell-bent on destroying you too! Those thoughts you have about your inadequacies as a mother? They aren’t your thoughts. They are from the same enemy who served up that big red delicacy to Eve on a shiny distorted platter.
Here’s what you need to remember: God chose you. He is 100% for you. And He loves your child even more than you do, so He isn’t leaving you on this journey alone. He is going to guide you through this parenting journey, working ALL things together for the good of you and your child!
6 Promises from God to Guide Mothers on the Parenting Journey
1. God will direct your steps
When you’re tempted to think, “I don’t know what to do,” remember, “God will direct [your] steps” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. God will give you wisdom
When you berate yourself believing that you “aren’t smart enough,” remember that God says that if you ask, He will give you wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30).
3. God’s grace is sufficient
When parenting is difficult and you feel like you can’t go on, remember that God promises that His grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. God will supply all your needs
When you are at the end of your parenting rope, and you don’t think you can manage a situation, remember that God promised that He will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19).
5. God did not give you a spirit of fear
When you are afraid, remember that God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
6. God has already forgiven you
And perhaps my favorite: when you have made a mistake as a mother, and find it difficult to forgive yourself, remember that God has already forgiven you (Romans 8:1), and you can use this as a teachable moment with your child.
Sweet Friend, motherhood is hard. It isn’t for wimps. Which is good, because you aren’t one. God chose you because you were created for such a time as this. And with God’s help, you will survive this physical and emotional roller-coaster, and your child will be better for it. Trust God. You aren’t in this alone.
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
(If you have a question you’d like Dr. B to answer, contact her here now. Your name and identity will be kept confidential.)
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study {hope for overcoming depression}
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Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the new companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand: how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
Great encouragement for moms! I’m definitely sharing this one 🙂
Even though my active days of motherhood are over, I still love these encouraging words because once a mother, always a mother. 🙂 I’m grateful to be so involved in my daughters’ lives even now.
What beautiful and encouraging words! I love everything you said about being a mother. I’ve also been learning the importance of not comparing my mothering to someone else’s. It’s a struggle that I find myself in often and one I always seem to have to guard against.
I’m so glad that God will direct out motherhood journey! Our nest is almost empty, and now we’re moving on to the grandparenting stage–where it’s still important to let God direct our paths!
Such a wonderful reminder!
Love this reminder today! So grateful, the journey and mission God has glad me too. Even though it is one of the toughest. Some days are hard yet so many more rewarding. Thank you for the encouragement.
I like how you brought Mary and Sarah together as examples of unexpected and long awaited pregnancy. Motherhood is so much harder than anyone who’s never been one can know. And more wonderful!
What an excellent article! Motherhood, although challenging at times, is a gift from God and with Him by our side we can achieve our mission <3 God bless
It’d be terribly hard to be a parent without God. But by his grace it is possible to thrive as a parent. Thanks for encouragement. Blessings to you and yours!
This is so good my two youngest 18 and 20 just moved out and in with each other, I still question myself all the time if I did all I could for them, then I will start thinking maybe I should have done this or done this differently. There are days it is still hard but they have both done so well and are so far ahead of many there own age. No matter how old our children get we are still Mothers and the worries are still there I can’t imagine not having God to lean on through I. Thanks for sharing at Literacy Musing Mondays hope to see you next week.
Connie
Great message about motherhood! I had both of my children by age 25. Then I spent 18 yrs. raising them and 35 years maintaining and enjoying the fruit of my labor all these years. Thanks, Michelle, for this message. and modeling the role of mother for all of us. I do LOVE to be a mom. I get tickled at my daughter while she is working during the day, we communicate on messenger on Gmail. Periodically she will write me and say: ‘Where’s my mama”. Love that girl and ALL our bio kids and adopted kids so much. They are so special and God gave them to us.
Being a mom is hard and beautiful! I love how you remind us that God chose us, therefore, He also equips us. Thanks.
Yes, motherhood is challenging and so rewarding all at the same time. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Link-Up. Blessings to you, Maree