"If a woman is blessed to become a mother, God call’s her to make that her chief mission in life, raising those precious little children. Unfortunately, we live in a day where the role of motherhood is diminished and the women who embrace it, face great challenges."
Hannah deeply loved her husband, but was childless. This weighed so terribly upon her, that she could not eat and was visibly distraught. So much so her husband said, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). Eventually she went to her place of worship where “she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. (1 Sam. 1:10) In her desperate prayer for a baby boy she cried out to God and made a promise to Him, if He would provide a child saying, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” (1 Sam. 1:11). God did grant her request and nine months later little Samuel was born, who grew up to become a great leader in the history of Israel. (Photo from Unsplash)
I love this story because it communicates the natural, maternal instinct of a woman to have a child, which she was amazingly created by God to do. This is a normal God-given desire for a woman, and when she is blessed to have children, there is tremendous joy and fulfillment. Conversely, when a woman is unable to get pregnant or when her baby dies in the womb or after birth, there is deep sorrow.
It is written, “. . . children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man (or woman) who fills his quiver with them! (Psalm 127:3-5) Motherhood is a wonderful blessing and gift from God. Whether it is one child or 12. Whether biological, step, adoptive or foster care children. Whether in good health or with a disability. No matter the ups and downs, bliss or heartache, children are a blessing.
Like Hannah, if a woman is blessed to become a mother, God call’s her to make that her chief mission in life, raising those precious little children. Unfortunately, we live in a day where the role of motherhood is diminished and the women who embrace it, face great challenges. The world we live in does not encourage the pursuit or priority of marriage and family. Instead, it encourages selfish individualism, plunging into entertainment and recreation, a quest for personal pleasure and putting career above raising a family. Today married couples are delaying the start of their family unlike any time in the past, and are having fewer children than ever before. When asking a child what they want to be, we might hear things like being a professional athlete, a doctor, or amassing followers on social media. Where is the discussion about aspiring to get married and become a father or mother and have children?
God has created us and laid out how we are to live, but we have fallen short, sinned against Him and hurt ourselves. To some degree maybe you feel like you have failed as a mom or find it difficult to embrace the idea of motherhood. Maybe you had a child outside of marriage, entered into a bad relationship that ended in divorce, put your interests above your kids or been terribly harsh with them. Whatever it is, stop and consider God’s plan for you.
If you feel have fallen short, come to Him with a humble spirit and call out for forgiveness. He will hear and forgive. When God sent His only Son to die on a cross and rise again from the dead, He showed us that restoration is possible. Through turning from our sin and placing our faith in Christ, all things can be made new, which includes you.
A prayer for you – “Father in heaven I pray you will hear the cry of the barren woman to have a child. Hear the cry of the mom who has fallen short of your standards and give her new life in Christ. Hear the questions of the young woman who doubts if motherhood is for her. Show her how beautifully she is made and the purpose for which she was created. In Jesus name. Amen."
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