Faith is an encourager, hope is a cheerleader, and every godly mother who has given the whole of her heart to the task of loving God and leaving an imprint on her children and the world-at-large is standing on the sidelines of history cheering on the mothers of this generation.
Hebrews 11 is often referred to as a biblical "Hall of Fame." It is filled with women and men who lived out their faith in God in a dynamic and history-altering manner. These Hall of Famer's stories range from acts of righteousness to acts of bravery, martyrdom, and even experiencing the miraculous as women received back their dead. This illustrious chapter on the faith of our forerunners begins with these words, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what these ancients were commended for." As the chapter closes and moves into Hebrews 12, there is a seamless connection in which the author refers back to this faithful "Hall of Fame" to encourage the saints of the day. The author writes,
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
The author of Hebrews encourages us with the faith of those who have run the race toward Jesus before us. He is cheering for us with the faithful cloud of witnesses, hoping to spur us on as we run the race marked out for us. These six mothers in history are among that great cloud cheering you forward in the race that is marked out specifically for you!
1. Jochebed
Mentioned among those in the "Hall of Fame," Jochebed is recorded in Scripture (Exodus 1-2) as the mother of Moses. She is renowned for hiding her infant son (Moses) for three months in order to rescue him from a murderous edict intended to destroy all of the Israelite baby boys under the age of two. When Jochebed came to a crossroads where she realized she could no longer protect her son, she placed him in a watertight basket and floated him upon the Nile, hoping that he would be rescued. The daughter of the very same ruling official, who had pronounced the edict that could have cost him his young life, saved Moses.
Jochebed placed her son's future into the hands of the God of Israel, knowing that he alone would be his salvation. She cheers on all mothers as they daily entrust their children to God, and she acts as a forerunner for those women who, in times of distress, make hard choices to allow others to parent their children in order that they might have life.
2. Hannah
"She assumes that God can hear and respond to a woman's prayer."
This quote, taken from the text "Women in Scripture," speaks to the very heart of Hannah's faith and how she cheers on mothers, those who hope to be mothers, and all women of God as they seek to run with perseverance.
The story of Hannah is found within the first two chapters of the book of 1 Samuel. The Scriptures recount a woman who has found herself as one of two wives, and to add insult to injury, Hannah is unable to produce a child, while her counterpart bears multiple children and harshly teases Hannah over her lack of ability to give their husband any children. As a woman of deep and rich faith in the Almighty God, she bears her pain to him as only the one who can change her circumstance. Hannah does not hold back but "pours out her soul" and offers her honest "anguish and grief" to the Lord. She vows to God that the child he gives to her will be fully dedicated to him, and when he fulfills her request, she stands as a woman faithful to her word.
Hannah encourages us to a wholehearted faith and cheers us on to be mothers who pray fervently, grieve honestly, and fulfill our commitments completely. She reminds us that our hope is in God alone.
3. Mary, the Mother of Jesus
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
Mary was given the unparalleled honor and heartache of birthing the promised Savior of all creation. As a young woman, she exhibited the belief that the God of the Israelites was faithful, that he was able to do far beyond what she could think or imagine, that he would care for her in the face of potential shame and dishonor, and that he was open to her honest and humble questions.
Mary cheers every mother to be open to the miraculous, obedient in the face of potential ridicule, always waiting in hope for God to fulfill his word, and ready to take our earnest conversation to the Lord.
4. Eunice and Her Mother, Lois
"Mothers have been God's first line of discipleship down through the ages." Professor Rick Durst
In his letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul commends Timothy's mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, for their impact on the deep-rooted faith that is evident within Timothy. Eunice and Lois have demonstrated a living and sincere faith that was being passed through the generations. Not only did this mother and grandmother birth a legacy of faith within Timothy, but they can also lay claim to every soul that the good news of Jesus Christ was poured into through the ministry of Timothy.
Eunice and Lois stand prominently within the great cloud of witnesses as they cheer us on to leaving a legacy of faith through sharing the good news of Jesus within our household and trusting that its impact will ripple far beyond their own home.
5. Sojourner Truth
As a slave, Sojourner Truth watched as her children were sold away from her and the plantation on which she lived. Finally, in an act of profound courage and trust in God, she took her infant daughter and escaped from the oppression of slavery. In time she also petitioned the courts and won the custody of a son that had been separated from her. Sojourner became an itinerant preacher and an active abolitionist. As an activist, she spoke out for those who were oppressed and traveled, sharing the gospel and her strong faith in Christ wherever she went.
Sojourner Truth cheers every mother on to courage as we raise our voices to seek justice and mercy on behalf of our children and all those suffering under a reign of oppression.
6. Morrow Graham
I often encourage women that I serve that we may in this life have no idea how our small acts of faithfulness and prayer can and will grow exponentially, impacting hearts and souls far beyond our grasp. I end my encouragement by saying, "Someone was out there praying for Billy Graham." As it turns out, it was the consistent and earnest influence of his mother that he credited as the first seeds of his devotion to Jesus. Graham noted in his memoir, "Just As I Am," that his mother, Morrow Graham prayed diligently every morning and continued to pray over his wife, his children, and his wide-reaching ministry.
Morrow Graham roots for each of us as we entrust our small and consistent prayers and actions to the God who gave us our children and knows just what they need.
As these women spur us forward, Hebrews 12:2 reminds us of the goal of our race, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
These six mothers, and so many more, set their eyes on the promises that God put before them. Eve, Naomi and Ruth, Bathsheba, the woman at Zarephath, Rahab, and countless others crowd together as a "great cloud of witnesses". They encourage us in our faith and cheer us on in our motherhood. They each ran their own race with hope and faith and now stand among the mothers and women whose goal was always to endure to the end. These mothers were difference makers and legacy creators who stand alongside us as we run our race and shout, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/jacoblund
Stacey Monaco has been speaking and writing since her first unpublished children’s book in the fifth grade. Her journey as a writer has taken her from the depths of blue water exploration, to the simplicity of crafting words to encourage and educate in the areas of loss, legacy, leadership, and living life passionately with purpose. Stacey received her Masters Degree in Christian Ministry and Leadership from Talbot School of Theology, and has worked in many roles from slinging coffee to pastoring women. To find more on living the Christian life with intention, head over to her website at StaceyMonaco.com.