A Prayer for Women Who Struggle With Motherhood
By Lynette Kittle
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"—Ephesians 6:12
There is a struggle in the hearts and minds of many women concerning motherhood. More women are skipping out on maternity. The costs seem too high for some, outweighing motherhood's blessings and benefits. Motherhood was a noble choice in the past, but women are now discounted, demeaned, and even shamed for choosing it. These changing mindsets concerning motherhood can cause some mothers who choose to be mothers to second-guess their choice and struggle with the reality it involves.
Motherhood Is a Sacred Privilege
Motherhood is a beautiful calling designed by a loving God. It's a sacred privilege given to women to nurture, love, and care for another human being created in the image of God. Parenting is a godly endeavor created by God our heavenly Father. It is of the highest calling, which brings blessings and treasures in Heaven to women that last for eternity.
Motherhood's Choices
Motherhood is full of everyday choices and struggles, such as whether to work outside the home or stay at home, how to spend daily time, and who to put first into consideration. It's a day-to-day choice between what she wants over her children's needs. For some, these struggles involve feelings of missing out and lost opportunities, an idea currently being strongly promoted, pushed, and ingrained in the minds of modern-day girls and women. Tragically, these feelings can influence mothers to reject their children, thinking satisfaction can only be found outside motherhood.
Motherhood Struggles
Mothers don't have to face these struggles on their own. They can turn to God, the truth of His word, and to the hope of their future in Him. He is the One who opens doors no one can close (Revelation 3:8) and calls things into existence (Romans 4:17). There is nothing too complicated for God to accomplish (Genesis 18:14). The world may try to diminish motherhood. Some people will continue to consider mothers weak, but Scripture says:
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
The evil one attempts to blind the world to the truth of what is valuable and lasting in life and eternity. When we rely on God, we look forward to confessing, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) We find victory over earthly struggles through Christ Jesus: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Let's pray:
Dear Father,
Thank you for the gift of motherhood and for giving women the privilege of bringing forth life. As women, You have created us with the sacred ability to carry, nurture, and bring forth children who bear Your image. Lead us to rely on You and Your wisdom in dealing with and overcoming earthly struggles. Protect our hearts and minds from the lies and deceit of the evil one who is out to destroy the high calling of motherhood. With Your help, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Lead us, O Lord, to believe, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). In Jesus' name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
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, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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