10 Beautiful Ways God Ministers through Mothers

As the first woman, Eve pioneered pregnancy and childbirth, but her role in mankind’s fall often overshadows her contribution to motherhood.

Genesis 3:20 describes how “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.”

Like Eve, maybe your mom failed you in devastating ways? Even so, consider how through her life God gave you life. Ask Him to soften your heart towards her, to be grateful for her willingness to support your growing life inside of her so you could be born alive. Recognize the priceless gift she gave you.

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Rather than remembered for sending her husband to her servant for a baby, Scripture honors Sarah’s faith in God. As Hebrews 11:11 states, “By faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise.”

Still Genesis 19:12 describes how, “Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

As well, she had to overlook her husband’s reaction of falling facedown laughing and saying to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” (Genesis 17:17).

Despite the impossibilities, she believed God. As Genesis 21:2 explains, “Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.”

Many mothers like Sarah, believe God for the impossible. As Scripture affirms, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14).

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A mother often remembered more for her deceitful ways than her godly insight is Isaac’s wife Rebekah, daughter-in-law of Abraham and Sarah, and mother of Jacob and Isaac.

As the expectant mother of twins, Rebekah was concerned about her babies because, “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord” (Genesis 25:22).

When she did, “The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger’” (Genesis 25:23).

Years later when her husband Isaac was dying, Rebekah intervened to make sure Jacob received his father’s blessing instead of their first-born, Esau (Genesis 27). Although her methods to accomplish it are highly questionable, Scripture states, “before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad” God had spoken His purposes for their lives (Romans 9:11).Like Rebekah, God often gives mothers insights into His plans for their children’s lives. 

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During a frightening time in Egypt, midwives were ordered to kill all newborn male Israelites (Exodus 1:15,16). When Jochebed gave birth to a beautiful child called Moses, she hid him for three months (Exodus 2:2).

“But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile” (Exodus 2:3).

Placing Moses’ sister at a distance to keep an eye on him (Exodus 2:4), he was soon found by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:6), who moved by compassion, took him as her own. Through his sister’s quick thinking (Exodus 2:7), his adopted mother hired his birth mother to nurse him (Exodus 2:9).

As God led both Moses’ birth mother and adoptive mother, He continues to lead mothers today, giving them wisdom and directing their steps. 

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Along with deciding disputes (Judges 4:5), Deborah, called “The Mother of Israel,” encouraged the Israelites during tough times. As a judge and prophetess (Judges 4:4), she led them in standing strong during distressful times.

In facing fierce enemies, Deborah offered direction and reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness to them in Egypt, at the Red Sea, in the Wilderness, and in conquering Canaan. As a strong support, Scripture explains, “Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).

Like Deborah, mothers have a way of encouraging and standing with their children during tough times.

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When Naomi’s two sons died, she released her two daughter-in-laws from having to care for her. More concerned for their welfare than her own, she told them, “Return home, my daughters” (Ruth 1:12).

When daughter-in-law Ruth refused to leave her side, she took her along in returning to her kin. Once there, Ruth began working in a field owned by Ruth’s relative, Boaz (Ruth 2:1-3). Again, Naomi looked out for Ruth’s welfare saying, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for you” (Ruth 3:1). To her offer, Ruth answered, “I will do whatever you say” (Ruth 3:5).

In a bold move, Naomi instructed Ruth to, “Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor” (Ruth 3:3). Following Naomi’s directives led Ruth to a loving husband and provision for both women.

Mothers like Ruth look out for the well being of their children above their own needs.

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Finding herself childless, Scripture states, “In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10).

Despite being taunted by her rival and dismissed by the priest (1 Samuel 1:12), Hannah didn’t waiver in her determination. 1 Samuel 1:7 describes how year after year, she wept and would not eat, fasting, praying, and asking God for a child.

Instead of turning away from God, Hannah remained persistent in her desire to become a mother, even vowing to God, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give me a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).

Hannah’s perseverance touched the heart of God and “He remembered her” (1 Samuel 1:19). As written in 1 Samuel 1:27, Hannah states, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.”

As the giver of life, God responds to a mother’s heartfelt prayers.

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With a great famine in the land, Luke 4:25-26 explains how God sent Elijah to “a widow in Zarephath.” As a destitute widow with a son to feed, she had run out of resources, including food.

Seeing her at the town gate, Elijah asked her to get him water and bread. In response she explained, “I don’t have any bread-only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it-and die” (1 Kings 17:12).

Still Elijah insisted, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land” (1 Kings 17:13, 14).

In submission to God, “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food everyday for Elijah and for the woman and her family” (1 Kings 17:15).

At her lowest point she followed God’s will by giving all she had and entrusting her son’s future to the Lord. In the same manner, many moms surrender to God’s will for their families.

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Sometimes mothers find themselves in life-and-death situations. One such mother is found in King Solomon’s court.

1 Kings 3:16 describes the scene, “Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.”

Standing there with one baby between the two, one mother claimed her healthy baby had been switched during the night while she slept, with the other woman’s lifeless baby who had died.  As the only two people in the house, there were no witnesses between the two of them.

To solve the issue, King Solomon stated the baby would be divided in two, which each mother receiving a half. To this verdict, “The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her and said to the king, ‘Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!’ But the other said, ‘Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!’”

King Solomon in his wisdom recognized the true mother of the baby by the women’s responses and gave her baby back to her.

As King Solomon recognized, a true mother’s heart values the life of her child above her own.

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Before He was born, Mary the mother of Jesus knew God had remarkable plans for her son’s life (Luke 1:31-33). Recognizing He could help when wine ran out at a wedding at Cana in Galilee, she turned to Jesus telling Him, “They have no more wine” (John 2:1-3).

To her request, He replied, “Woman, why do you involve me?’ My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). To his question, “His mother said to the servants, ‘do whatever he tells you’” (John 2:5).

Even though Jesus seemed reluctant, Mary seemed to understand it was time for Jesus’ public ministry to begin, and like a mother does, she helped Him get started in ministry.

As Mary helped Jesus to start out, God often ministers through mothers to help their children begin living out His plan for their lives.

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.   

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