As we celebrate Mother’s Day, it is important to recognize the beauty and sacrifice of motherhood. In taking time to honor our mothers, we want to remember in prayer the dear women who long to be a mom, but are without children. The desire to be a mom is natural and common for many women. Young girls pretend to be a mommy as they care for baby dolls, and as girls grow up into women, many continue feeling drawn to motherhood as they seek to marry and start families. Motherhood is something to celebrate and is truly a blessed journey through all the ups and downs.
“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth’” (Genesis 9:1).
Becoming a parent is part of God’s design in which men and women multiply and be fruitful to fill the earth. God blesses the family model, and He has orchestrated having children. Therefore, it can be particularly painful when a woman is not able to have children. Some women are unable to conceive, while others never marry and therefore, do not become mothers. Whatever her unique story may be, there are women who long to be a mother but have not had that desire met.
Here is a Mother’s Day prayer for the woman who longs to be a mom.
Is Being Childless a Punishment from God?
It is tempting to believe that when you don’t have children, it must mean that God is punishing you. Many women who long to have children but don’t feel guilty or shameful, as though they’ve done something wrong, and God is penalizing them. When you experience a miscarriage, cannot get pregnant, or aren’t married to have children, it might feel like God is punishing you.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3).
The Bible teaches that children are certainly a blessing, yet nowhere in Scripture does it say that being childless is a curse or punishment. God blesses and rewards His followers in many ways. Biblical couples, such as Abraham and Sarah or Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced the deep sorrow and pain of infertility. Yet this was not God’s curse on them. When sinful nature entered the world, nothing was left untouched. Our bodies are broken, get ill, and do not always function in the way that God designed them to because of sin entering humanity and the world.
“An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs; her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit” (1 Corinthians 7:34).
Some women who long to be mothers are not dealing with infertility, but since they are not married, they do not have children. Lydia and Martha were women in the New Testament who never married and therefore, did not have children. Indeed, these biblical women were not being punished by God either. We know God loved them deeply and used them to further His kingdom. Singleness allows a woman to be devoted to the Lord in a special way.
Finding Purpose and Comfort
Though you may not have children, your life is just as meaningful and purposeful. A woman without children – whatever her circumstances – is not less than or missing out on the abundant life God has for her. Women who feel the longing to be a mother are not being passed over or forgotten by God.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
We can fully trust that God has purpose and meaning for everyone. The Lord establishes our steps. Motherhood is not the only task God calls women to. He has a specific path for you to take and equips you with unique gifts to use for His kingdom. Whether or not a woman has children, she has God-given gifts that she can use to serve others, build up the church, share the Good News, and love God with all her heart, mind, and strength. Pray to the Lord that He will show you the gifts He has given you and what steps to take so that you can faithfully serve Him. Whatever you face, God is with you.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).
In your pain and longing to be a mother, God is with you. He is no stranger to sorrow and mourns along with you. We know that Jesus wept when His friend Lazarus died. We know that God is not unmoved by our trials and hardships. God will comfort your heart. He will give you wisdom, and His Holy Spirit will minster to you. As you feel the heartache of longing for motherhood, continue to seek God and cling to your faith. God will never let you down. He is doing something wonderful in your life, even when it is hard to see in the moment. We know that God is faithful, loving, and good always (see Lamentation 3:22-23).
A Prayer for the Woman Who Longs to Be a Mother
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, an important way to support women who long to be a mom is to set aside time to pray for them and with them. Here is a Mother’s Day prayer for the women who long to be a mom.
Heavenly Father,
We rejoice in Your goodness and praise Your holy name. You are a good God who loves unconditionally and is full of compassion toward Your children. Though we are prone to wander, You oh God, remain faithful.
On Mother’s Day, we give thanks for all the moms in our lives that have raised, taught, fed, cuddled, loved on, guided, prayed for, and invested in us. We are grateful for mothers. Yet we take this time to pray and lift up our sisters in Christ to You, Lord, who are longing to be a mother. We pray for the women who desire motherhood yet are still waiting. You have created us with a natural desire to have children, and it is part of Your perfect order for humankind to be fruitful and multiply. We thank You for the gift of family. So, we know You understand, Lord, the deep sorrow and pain that comes when a woman cannot have children — whatever her situation may be. We lift these sisters up to You during this season because while many are celebrating motherhood, we know that some are aching and feeling abandoned.
Your word promises that You are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). The women who are longing to be moms, who are longing to enter motherhood, they are feeling crushed, and they are feeling brokenhearted. Save them, Lord, and be close to them. Thank You for being an ever-present help in times of any trouble we face (Psalm 46:1).
We pray for our sisters without children to feel loved on Mother’s Day. To trust in Your goodness and Your love for them. Remind them of Your compassion and that You hear their prayers. Help them to walk in confidence that You have good plans for them, and that You will work all things together for them because they love you. Help these sisters have a deep faith in You and to keep their hearts fully devoted to You, even as they grieve what they do not have. Lord, You are gracious, and You are mighty to do all things. Heal their pain, comfort their hearts, and we pray that You would somehow satisfy that desire these women have to be a mom. Hear our prayers.
We ask these things in Jesus’ most holy name,
Amen!
Photo credit: Unsplash/Meiying Ng
Pamela Palmer is a writer, speaker, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces devotionals and faith resources to inspire keeping faith at the center of life. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of others. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is the author of Living a Deeper Faith: Nurture Your Relationship with God and Live a Faith-Fueled Life. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com, and you can follow her at upheldlife.com or on Facebook.com/upheldlife.