Does God even care about the struggles and joy motherhood brings into our lives? For a long time, my only reference to what the Bible said concerning motherhood consisted of a handful of verses I'd heard that warned that having kids in the end times would really stink.
The other cluster of verses were the ones in which Paul advises not to get married and have kids in the first place. Paul notes that marriage and kids will be a distraction to the Christian life (Amen, Paul). For a long time, I didn't think God really cared that I was giving all I had to nurture the little lives I've been given. I truly didn't believe God's Word could speak to the specific struggles unique to motherhood.
God is good and faithful and knew that my heart was struggling in this new role of Mom. He gently led me on a faith journey that showed me how the promises he gave us through the Bible are for me as a Mom. His words are alive, active, and full of truth that we can build our homes on.
Here are a few biblical promises that have encouraged me on some of my toughest days as a parent. I'm so thankful that God never leaves us alone in this life! He is with us through every age and stage.
1. God Watches Over Us
1 Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.
You know that mom saying: "I've got eyes in the back of my head." Well, it's said as a joke, but it's kind of true! Not because we can magically watch our kids on our own at all times, but because we can trust that God is watching over children and going with them, even when we are not present.
This became truly real for me just a few months back. We have pretty good rules around screen usage in our house, but we have kids who are getting older and smarter than us. They have begun to slip past some rules to find themselves caught in the big wild west of the internet. Before I discovered the breach in our protocol, I kept feeling the spirit tug at me to check their tablets. Life is busy, and I kept forgetting to check to ensure they weren't going past the parental controls. One night at 11 pm, when I normally am fast asleep, I heard my son in the bathroom and felt I needed to get the tablet right then. I discovered the secret sneaking, but while I was sad about the whole ordeal, I felt comforted that the Holy Spirit was watching over my kiddo and speaking to me.
I told my son he would never get away with anything because I have the Holy Spirit on my side in a joking manner, but I meant it too. When we are doing right, keeping an open ear to God's voice, we can trust that he will help give us the wisdom to keep our children protected while in our homes. He is watching over our kids right alongside us and helping us in the moments we really do need that extra pair of eyes to keep everyone in our home safe from the evil one.
2. God Gives Us a Good Life
Psalm 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
You've seen those Good Life stickers, and while I'm pretty sure they allude to something that looks like a wealthy, successful life, they really are tugging at a desire that lives in all of our hearts. We sense that the life we have been given has value. It's meant to be used in a way that is filled with meaning and purpose. We all collectively grieve when life is lost too young or when evil steals from the well-being of a person. As moms, we desire our children to experience God's goodness in the here and now. We know they will face trials, but we hope they will also know of God's kindness and beauty and find ways to flourish.
I love this verse from Psalms because it speaks to that desire to not only endure but to delight! We can delight in God's creation, the relationships he has put in our lives, and the indulgence of a handmade dessert! Our children can look forward to savoring the good and beautiful pieces of this world while also anticipating the great hope of Heaven we are each promised. As a mom, knowing God cares about our joy and provides for us when we face tribulations gives me hope. I want to know my kids will know of God's kindness and peace when they need these powerful pieces of who He is.
3. He Gives Us Peace and Strength
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I love that the Bible talks so freely about fear because, as mommas, I think fear can be our biggest burden. Motherhood for me gave rise to a level of fear that nearly consumed me. I was afraid of bridges, accidents, strangers, heights, invaders, sickness, and, most of all, death. Not to mention a long list of other terrifying made-up scenarios my mind seemed to wander to without me even noticing.
Invasive fear is a common thing moms struggle with, especially in those initial postpartum months, and it's tough to get a hold of God's peace when biology is telling you to live in perpetual panic. Thankfully God promises to strengthen us even when the weight of anxiety can feel crushing. He holds onto us and leads us toward what we need to feel his peace again.
I found peace by focusing on God's Word in a new and more intentional way. I found some healthy habits that helped put my body in a better balance. I spoke to professionals about what I was experiencing, and God finally led me towards anti-anxiety medication because he knew it was a tool that was going to help me find balance again.
Motherhood is scary, but God upholds, guides, and strengthens us for the journey he has appointed for us! I'm so sure I could not do this without him. I am so grateful for his kindness when I've failed. He is gracious.
4. He Gives Us Wisdom
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Parenting is tricky! Goodness, are there not so many ways you can potentially ruin your kids? The amount of research, books, and advice for parents truly can feel overwhelming. Sometimes I'm so grateful we know more than our parents (in theory), but other times I feel lost because I'm not sure which parenting option is really the best one.
Thankfully we can read books and take in the research, but ultimately, God is the one that reveals to our hearts what is wise. We can go to him anytime we feel stuck or lost as parents, and his grace is sufficient to meet us right where we are in our journey. If we struggle to hear him speak, he wrote down what wisdom looks like in the Bible, and we can always go back to its pages when we are feeling unsure.
God helps us know when to press, when to step back, when to say sorry, when to say no, and when to tell them it's time to rest because you are just overtired! His wisdom is generously available to us whenever we need it as parents. I know I need to ask for his wisdom more. I am so grateful it's always available no matter what challenge I face as a Mom.
God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and an anchor to our souls. Read it, meditate on it, and let God's Word guide us as we journey alongside our children through this life. He is a good shepherd and gently leads us!
Amanda Idleman just released a new devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. Her devotional invites you on a journey to discover the promises of God that we can cling to as a Mothers. Promises we that give us hope, courage, guidance, and comfort when we feel we are at our limit as mothers. The devotional includes a Scripture, devotional content, a prayer, and reflection questions to ponder over this thirty day journey towards peace and purpose as a Mom.
You can find it here!
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.