How can God, a (the) Father, possibly know what it’s like to be a mother? Have you ever thought about that? Hmm, me too! As I have come in and out of precious and grueling seasons of motherhood, while I am so thankful God has seen me through each and every one, I have often wondered, what can God possibly know about being a mom?
Well, I wanted to know! So, I began digging a little, prayed for revelation, read some, and dug even deeper. I quickly realized there is a lot to say on this subject. Let’s just say, the rabbit hole is deep, and I found some things I didn’t really feel like entertaining. However, what I did find was a gentle stir in my heart which led to something else. God never ceases to amaze me!
It all landed me to this final conclusion – God is beyond my comprehension, and I will not (nor was I meant to) understand His ways. However, God not only knows what motherhood is like, but being in the business of creating a woman and designing the delicate and beautiful nature of a mother by His very own hand, He pretty much understands every facet of motherhood. All the triumphs, all the challenges, all the joy and all the sorrow, all the highs and all the lows.
Basically, God gets it! Better yet, He provides us with precious promises to encourage us and tuck within our momma hearts to comfort us and gently say, “I am here, and I understand.”
So, are you ready to get to know the real God? The One who sees you and knows you full well. The One who knows you had a hard day and ended up in tears on the kitchen floor. The One who says, "Take hold of My hand, and just trust Me. The One who truly understands YOU!"
Well then, friend, hang on and get ready, because hope is here, and it is found in the beautiful pages of His Word. Let’s feed Your heart and refresh your soul, all while renewing your mind with nuggets of truth and sweet whispers of God’s precious promises – just for you, sweet momma!
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1. God Is a Purposeful Planner
God has a master plan for mothers. Yep, that’s right, and it is because He created all things for His glory. That means you, my beautiful momma, were created for Him to enjoy! And, oh my, how He loves to watch as you nurture those “little loves” of your life. He takes such delight in you and watching you be a mother.
"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him." -Psalm 37:23
The plan God has for you was specifically detailed and designed to meet you and the needs of your unique family (Jeremiah 29:11). But, that said, the plan He lays out for every momma is clear – to leave a lasting legacy that will live on in your children. Think of it this way: What do you want your children to say about you once you are gone? Well then, live that out right now!
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." -1 John 4:16
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2. God Has Equipped You
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." -2 Peter 1:3
It’s so easy to fall into the trap that somehow you missed the “motherly” attributes. Maybe you have a short fuse, you can’t seem to manage a clean home, and hugging doesn’t come quite naturally for you as it does for other moms. Can I invite you to let go of the expectations you hang over yourself? That’s right, let them go. They don’t serve any purpose.
God has given you everything you need. And only you! You will not be like any other momma, and your children will be different as well because God chose you! And He chose your children to be given to you - as a gift.
We tend to focus on things we wish were different or our indecencies and insecurities, feeling unworthy of this calling. But, please don’t bend to that lie. Hold on to the sweet promise God extends to us.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." -2 Corinthians 12:9
We are not enough on our own. But, with God, we are more than enough!
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3. God Is a Great Comforter
Motherhood can be quite the emotional ride with many strings attached, one being filled with grief and sorrow. This life is full of uncertainties, but one thing is for certain – God is with us and will comfort us in our time of need. That is a promise. That means we can count on it!
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." -Matthew 5:4
This verse became a comforting companion and one I sought often after my mom slipped from this world into the heavenly realm. Trying to be a mom while grief abounds is not easy. It’s a day at a time and a one-foot-in-front-of-the-other kind of feeling that can consume everything, making the simplest of tasks seem daunting.
Needless to say, motherhood can sometimes become a role you don’t have much energy for when you are wading through grief. I understand how it hurts in ways you can’t even explain. But God somehow shows up in unexpected ways. It’s in the sweet gesture of a friend. A silent moment when you feel unexplainable peace. Or in that tender hug from your sweet teen. Lean into those; they are a gift from God to let you know He is near.
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4. God Casts Out Fear
Rasing children in this day in age has come with a lengthy set of challenges. It’s heartbreaking and overwhelming to say the least. It can cause us to question everything we do and lead us down paths of darkness that can so quickly consume our heart and wrap us in fear. Welp!
But, God tells us time and time again (365 time to be exact) not to be afraid. Read some of the verses below and cast out fear when it wants to creep in. Because God tells us He will give us the strength we need, especially when it comes to caring for your children!
"Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up with My right hand that is right and good." -Isaiah 41:10
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." -Philippians 4:6
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9
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5. God Is Full of Forgiveness and Gives Us Hope
Momma guilt is a real thing! Oh, my goodness, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have struggled with forgiving myself as a momma. I remember the first time it happened too. I was changing my oldest (who is now nearly 17) and turned for a brief bit to grab a diaper, and (as if in slow motion) she rolled right off the changing table onto the floor. I felt just plain awful! Thankfully, she was fine, but there have been many times since then that I have needed to forgive myself. From the times I lost my temper and said harsh things to making really bad judgement calls to allowing too much screen time to the work/life balance and so many other family dilemmas. It’s endless!
Oh friend, when we want to smother ourselves in guilt and shame, letting the past control us, we need to remember we serve a God who doesn’t want us to be stuck. Instead, God pushes us to move forward – with freedom! His mercies and grace are new every day, and His love never fails us. He tells us to come to Him with our heavy heart and give Him our hurt and sin. Then just like that – poof! He wipes the slate clean. It’s really that simple; we just tend to complicate it. But, these are the verses we need to cling to when we just can’t let it go:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13
Let’s be real - being a mom is “heart” work! It doesn’t matter what season you find yourself in, whether it be rocking a sweet little nugget or watching that teen wave good-bye from a college campus. Being a mom pulls at your heartstrings, every single one of them.
But Jesus understands!
Jesus knew what it meant to serve others and continue to give, even when the recipients were often ungrateful and dishonored Him (John 13:1). Jesus knew what it was like to have little alone time as He was constantly surrounded by His disciples and crowds of people, yet He often tried to slip away to find quiet time with the Father (Luke 5:16). Jesus understood what it was like to be in high demand, where everyone wanted a piece of Him and to touch Him. We see people gather just to touch His garment, yet His Spirit was gentle and kind (Luke 8:40-48).
Friend, our God knows the endless demands we face on the daily, but He promises us hope! He tells us that our hope is in Him, the God who understands but offers us a play book (The Bible) to hold near and dear when this motherhood journey gets tough.
"He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak." -Isaiah 40:29
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." -Hebrew 11:1
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12
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Originally published Wednesday, 04 October 2023.
